Asymptomatic methaemoglobinaemia and its implications.
Anaesthetists are well trained to detect subtle skin signs of life-threatening situations such as cyanosis in hypoxia. However, cyanosis resulting from drug-induced, asymptomatic methaemoglobinaemia is rare and is likely to go undetected preoperatively. Patients presenting with asymptomatic methaemoglobinaemia may, therefore, offer a dramatic challenge to the unprepared anaesthetist. We report a case of methaemoglobinaemia secondary to dapsone ingestion that was diagnosed intraoperatively.
Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.
R
R
Chawla
P
P
Kundra
A
A
Bhattacharya
D003490:Cyanosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D003622:Dapsone / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged
D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D003622:Dapsone