title: Intraoperative pulmonary oedema in a child following systemic absorption of phenylephrine eyedrops.
abstract: Ophthalmic surgeons often apply phenylephrine topically to effect pupillary dilatation. We describe a paediatric patient in whom cardiac arrhythmias, severe hypertension and pulmonary oedema occurred following intraoperative ocular phenylephrine administration. We believe that systemic absorption of the drug was responsible and discuss ways in which this might be reduced when ocular phenylephrine is used in this context.
authors: Anaesthetic Department, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors: F J
authors: FJ
authors: Baldwin
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Morley
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D009184:Mydriatics / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D009184:Mydriatics; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010656:Phenylephrine