title: Gangrene and renal failure caused by dihydroergotamine used to treat raised intracranial pressure following head trauma.
abstract: A case of peripheral gangrene and renal failure following the use of dihydroergotamine (DHE) for treatment of raised intracranial pressure (ICP) is reported. There have been several reports of vasospasm and peripheral gangrene caused by DHE used in combination with heparin for prevention of deep venous thrombosis. Clinical experience with the use of DHE in head trauma is limited. This case report emphasises the seriousness of the adverse effects associated with the use of this drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Umed University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Mjørndal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D004087:Dihydroergotamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D011559:Pseudotumor Cerebri / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D004087:Dihydroergotamine