Methemoglobinemia after topical anesthesia with lidocaine and benzocaine for a difficult intubation.
Methemoglobinemia is an uncommon cause of cyanosis; however, rapid diagnosis is critical to avoid potentially fatal consequences. Several local anesthetics can precipitate methemoglobinemia in susceptible patients. This case report of acute methemoglobinemia occurred during fiberoptic intubation in an awake patient without a past medical history of adverse reactions to local anesthetics.
Kern
K
K
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0254, USA.
Langevin
P B
PB
Dunn
B M
BM
D000328:Adult; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001566:Benzocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008012:Lidocaine; D010100:Oxygen; D008751:Methylene Blue; D001566:Benzocaine