Benzocaine-Induced Methemoglobinemia: Report of a Severe Reaction and Review of the Literature

1994 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 643-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis F. Rodriguez ◽  
Lynn M. Smolik ◽  
Alicia J. Zbehlik
Keyword(s):  
Methylene Blue ◽  
Ventilatory Support ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Severe Reaction ◽  
Oxygen Administration ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Laboratory Confirmation ◽  
Common Causes ◽  
High Doses ◽  
Special Risk

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of benzocaine-induced inethemoglobinemia and present a review of the related literature. CASE REPORT: An 83-year-old man received benzocaine topical anesthesia 600 mg prior to intubation for resection of a thyroid adenoma. The patient became severely cyanotic after induction of anesthesia. After a negative workup for common causes of cyanosis, blood co-oximetry analysis revealed a methemoglobin concentration of 54.1 percent. Intravenous methylene blue reversed the methemoglobinemia, although delayed recurrence 20 h later necessitated readministration of intravenous methylene blue. The patient developed cardiovascular instability and severe neurologic depression requiring prolonged ventilatory support. DISCUSSION: Methemoglobinemia can result from exposure to a number of drugs including benzocaine. Cyanosis, neurological and cardiac dysfunction may result when methemoglobin concentrations exceed 30 percent. Clinical diagnosis is made on the presentation of cyanosis unresponsive to oxygen administration and a distinctive arterial blood brown color; laboratory confirmation is by co-oximetry. Treatment of symptomatic methemoglobinemia is by intravenous methylene blue (1–2 mg/kg) administration. Fifty-four cases of benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia have been reported in the literature. Intubation, endoscopy/bronchoscopy, and ingestion were the most common procedures in which benzocaine administration produced methemoglobinemia. Infants and the elderly were more likely to develop toxic methemoglobinemia after benzocaine exposure. Other risk factors included genetic reductase deficiencies, exposure to high doses of anesthetic, and presence of denuded skin and mucous membranes. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the potential for severe complications, methemoglobinemia should be corrected promptly in compromised patients and those with toxic benzocaine concentrations. The possibility of masking symptoms during general anesthesia carries special risk of use of this agent in the preanesthesia setting.

scholarly journals P-Chloroaniline Poisoning Causing Methemoglobinemia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Anna Sarah Messmer ◽  
Christian Hans Nickel ◽  
Dirk Bareiss
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Blood Gas Analysis ◽  
Gas Analysis ◽  
Peripheral Oxygen Saturation ◽  
Arterial Blood Gas ◽  
Oxygen Administration ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Arterial Blood Gas Analysis ◽  
Common Causes ◽  
Treatable Condition

Background. Methemoglobin (MetHb) most commonly results from exposure to an oxidizing chemical but may also arise from genetic, dietary, or even idiopathic etiologies.P-chloroaniline (PCA) was one of the first substances described in the context of acquired methemoglobinemia.Case Report. We report the case of a cyanotic chemistry worker who presented to our emergency department (ED) after working with PCA. His peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) measured by pulse oximetry was at 81% and remained on that level despite oxygen administration (100% oxygenation via nonrebreather mask). His MetHb level was measured at 42.8% in arterial blood gas analysis. After treatment with intravenous methylene blue cyanosis resolved and the patient was discharged after 36 hours of observation.Conclusion. Acquired methemoglobinemia is a treatable condition, which may cause significant morbidity and mortality. The knowledge about the most common causes, fast diagnostic, and proper treatment is crucial.

Approach to the Patient with Acute Respiratory Failure

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddy Fan ◽  
Alice Vendramin
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Acute Respiratory Failure ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Ventilatory Support ◽  
Lung Protective Ventilation ◽  
Positive Pressure ◽  
Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Common Causes

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a common reason for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Failure of one or more components of the respiratory system can lead to hypoxemia, hypercabia, or both. Initial evaluation of patients with ARF should include physical examination, chest imaging, and arterial blood gases (ABG) sampling. As ARF is often a life-threatening emergency, a patient’s oxygenation and ventilation will need to be supported at the same time that diagnostic and therapeutic interventions are planned. The priorities for early treatment are essentially those of basic life support: airway and breathing. The first step is to assess a patient’s airway and ascertain that it is patent. This is followed by efforts to support both oxygenation and ventilation. This can include non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilatory support. As with all interventions, there are risks inherent in the use of mechanical ventilation, which may be minimized by the use of lung protective ventilation (i.e., with low tidal volumes and airway pressures). Finally, due to the potential complications associated with mechanical ventilation, it is important to regularly assess whether a patient continues to require the assistance of the ventilator, and to liberate patients from mechanical ventilation at the earliest opportunity when clinically safe and feasible to do so. Figures depict pressure-time curve. Tables list the clinical causes of hypoxemic respiratory failure, oxygen delivery devices, indications for noninvasive positive pressure support, common causes of abnormal respiratory mechanics, and common causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This review contains 2 highly rendered figures, 5 tables, and 86 references.

Approach to the Patient with Acute Respiratory Failure

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddy Fan ◽  
Alice Vendramin
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Acute Respiratory Failure ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Ventilatory Support ◽  
Lung Protective Ventilation ◽  
Positive Pressure ◽  
Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Common Causes

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a common reason for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Failure of one or more components of the respiratory system can lead to hypoxemia, hypercabia, or both. Initial evaluation of patients with ARF should include physical examination, chest imaging, and arterial blood gases (ABG) sampling. As ARF is often a life-threatening emergency, a patient’s oxygenation and ventilation will need to be supported at the same time that diagnostic and therapeutic interventions are planned. The priorities for early treatment are essentially those of basic life support: airway and breathing. The first step is to assess a patient’s airway and ascertain that it is patent. This is followed by efforts to support both oxygenation and ventilation. This can include non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilatory support. As with all interventions, there are risks inherent in the use of mechanical ventilation, which may be minimized by the use of lung protective ventilation (i.e., with low tidal volumes and airway pressures). Finally, due to the potential complications associated with mechanical ventilation, it is important to regularly assess whether a patient continues to require the assistance of the ventilator, and to liberate patients from mechanical ventilation at the earliest opportunity when clinically safe and feasible to do so. Figures depict pressure-time curve. Tables list the clinical causes of hypoxemic respiratory failure, oxygen delivery devices, indications for noninvasive positive pressure support, common causes of abnormal respiratory mechanics, and common causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This review contains 2 highly rendered figures, 5 tables, and 86 references.

Early experience of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acutely inflamed gallbladder

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (SPL1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Abdul Hussein Handoz ◽  
Ahmed Kh Alsagban
Keyword(s):  
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy ◽  
Acute Cholecystitis ◽  
Gall Stone ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Stone Disease ◽  
Definitive Treatment ◽  
Adjacent Structures ◽  
Common Causes ◽  
Gall Stone Disease ◽  
Male To Female

Gallstones are now among the most important disease in the era of surgery. Definitive treatment of gall stone disease remains cholecystectomy. One of the common causes of emergency surgical referral is acute cholecystitis of which 50-70% cases are seen in the elderly patients.50 patients were treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy from October 2013 to October 2015. The patient’s age was from 20 to 65 years old with a mean age of 34 ±3 years old. The patients received in the emergency unit and their attack not more than 72 hrs of acute gall stone inflammation were included in this study.From the 50 patients,15 were males (34%) and females were 35 (74%) so the ratio of 1:2of male to female. Problems and complications that facing in this study at time of laparoscopy were mainly adhesions to the adjacent structures like stomach, colon, and omentum. Adhesion into CBD also considered.Early intervention for acute cholecystitis of calculus type by laparoscopy now regarding safe and gold standard approach that should be kept in mind when dealing with such cases.

scholarly journals Prehospital Diagnosis of Shortness of Breath Caused by Profound Metformin-Associated Metabolic Acidosis

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Pietro Elias Fubini ◽  
Laurent Suppan
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Acidosis ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Blood Gases ◽  
Shortness Of Breath ◽  
Potential Harm ◽  
Arterial Blood Gas ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Common Causes ◽  
Prehospital Diagnosis ◽  
Gas Measurement

Shortness of breath is a common complaint among patients in emergency medicine. While most common causes are usually promptly identified, less frequent aetiologies might be challenging to diagnose, especially in the pre-hospital setting. We report a case of prehospital dyspnoea initially ascribed to pulmonary oedema which turned out to be the result of profound metformin-associated metabolic acidosis. This diagnosis was already made during the prehospital phase by virtue of arterial blood gas measurement. Pre-hospital measurement of arterial blood gases is therefore feasible and can improve diagnostic accuracy in the field, thus avoiding unnecessary delay and potential harm to the patient before initiating the appropriate therapeutic actions.

Epidural Clonidine or Bupivacaine as the Sole Analgesic Agent during and after Abdominal Surgery 

1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 1354-1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc De Kock ◽  
Philippe Gautier ◽  
Athanassia Pavlopoulou ◽  
Marc Jonniaux ◽  
Patricia Lavand'homme
Keyword(s):  
High Dose ◽  
General Anesthetics ◽  
Visual Analogue Pain ◽  
Pain Scores ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Sedation Scores ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
High Doses ◽  
Group 1

Background The rationale of this study was to compare high-dose epidural clonidine with a more commonly used agent, such as bupivacaine. This was performed to give a more objective idea of the relative analgesic potency of epidural clonidine. Methods Sixty patients undergoing intestinal surgery during propofol anesthesia were studied. At induction, the patients received epidurally a dose of 10 micrograms/kg [corrected] clonidine in 7 ml saline followed by an infusion of 6 micrograms [corrected] x kg(-1) x h(-1) (7 ml/h) (group 1, n = 20), a dose of 7 ml bupivacaine, 0.5%, followed by 7 ml/h bupivacaine, 0.25% (group 2, n = 20), or a dose of 7 ml bupivacaine, 0.25%, followed by 7 ml/h bupivacaine, 0.125% (group 3, n = 20). Intraoperatively, increases in arterial blood pressure or heart rate not responding to propofol (0.5 mg/kg) were treated with intravenous alfentanil (0.05 mg/kg). Additional doses of propofol were given to maintain an adequate bispectral index. The epidural infusions were maintained for 12 h. In cases of subjective visual analogue pain scores up to 5 cm at rest or up to 8 cm during coughing, the patients were given access to a patient-controlled analgesia device. Results During anesthesia, patients in group 1 required less propofol than those in groups 2 and 3 (78 [36-142] mg vs. 229 [184-252] mg and 362 [295-458] mg; P < 0.05) and less alfentanil than patients in group 3 (0 [0-0] mg vs. 11 [6-20] mg; P < 0.05). Analgesia lasted 380 min (range, 180-645 min) in group 1 versus 30 min (range, 25-40 min) in group 2 and 22 min (range, 12.5-42 min) in group 3 (P < 0.05). There was no suggestion of a hemodynamic difference among the three groups except for heart rates that were significantly reduced in patients in group 1. Sedation scores were significantly higher in this group during the first 2 h postoperatively. Conclusion Our results show that high doses of epidural clonidine potentiate general anesthetics and provide more efficient postoperative analgesia than the two bupivacaine dosage regimens investigated.

When to use the new pneumococcal vaccine

1990 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 31-32
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Pneumococcal Vaccine ◽  
Pneumococcal Disease ◽  
Pneumococcal Pneumonia ◽  
Pneumococcal Infection ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Large Groups ◽  
Special Risk

Pneumococcal pneumonia probably affects about one in every thousand adults each year. Like other serious pneumococcal infection, it is more common and severe in the elderly, in those without a functional spleen (including patients with sickle-cell disease,1) and in patients with a variety of chronic diseases. In the United States a 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine was introduced in 1983, replacing a 14-valent vaccine; it is now recommended there for large groups of people.2 This newer 23-valent vaccine (Pneumovax-II - MSD) was licensed in Britain last May. Its use should be considered for those at special risk of pneumococcal disease.3–5

scholarly journals Prospective Randomized Crossover Study of a New Closed-loop Control System versus Pressure Support during Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation

2013 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 631-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noémie Clavieras ◽  
Marc Wysocki ◽  
Yannael Coisel ◽  
Fabrice Galia ◽  
Matthieu Conseil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crossover Study ◽  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Pressure Support ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Ventilatory Support ◽  
Inspiratory Pressure ◽  
Positive End Expiratory Pressure ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Ventilatory Parameters

Abstract Background: Intellivent is a new full closed-loop controlled ventilation that automatically adjusts both ventilation and oxygenation parameters. The authors compared gas exchange and breathing pattern variability of Intellivent and pressure support ventilation (PSV). Methods: In a prospective, randomized, single-blind design crossover study, 14 patients were ventilated during the weaning phase, with Intellivent or PSV, for two periods of 24 h in a randomized order. Arterial blood gases were obtained after 1, 8, 16, and 24 h with each mode. Ventilatory parameters were recorded continuously in a breath-by-breath basis during the two study periods. The primary endpoint was oxygenation, estimated by the calculation of the difference between the Pao2/Fio2 ratio obtained after 24 h of ventilation and the Pao2/Fio2 ratio obtained at baseline in each mode. The variability in the ventilatory parameters was also evaluated by the coefficient of variation (SD to mean ratio). Results: There were no adverse events or safety issues requiring premature interruption of both modes. The Pao2/Fio2 (mean ± SD) ratio improved significantly from 245 ± 75 at baseline to 294 ± 123 (P = 0.03) after 24 h of Intellivent. The coefficient of variation of inspiratory pressure and positive end-expiratory pressure (median [interquartile range]) were significantly higher with Intellivent, 16 [11–21] and 15 [7–23]%, compared with 6 [5–7] and 7 [5–10]% in PSV. Inspiratory pressure, positive end-expiratory pressure, and Fio2 changes were adjusted significantly more often with Intellivent compared with PSV. Conclusions: Compared with PSV, Intellivent during a 24-h period improved the Pao2/Fio2 ratio in parallel with more variability in the ventilatory support and more changes in ventilation settings.

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