Gangrene following intra-arterial injection of procaine penicillin.
Irreversible ischaemic gangrene of the upper limb developed in a one-year-old child after an unintentional intra-arterial injection of procaine penicillin. The hand needed amputation. Arterial embolization phenomenon along with intense vasospasm appears to have been responsible for this rare complication. Unintentional intra-arterial injection of penicillin intended for intra-muscular use may lead to disastrous consequences. Regional tissue necrosis has been described previously but ischaemia leading to gangrene of an extremity has not been reported. The following is a case report of a child who developed such a gangrene in his hand which had to be amputated.
D000293:Adolescent; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications; D005734:Gangrene / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D010402:Penicillin G Procaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D010402:Penicillin G Procaine