Pelvic pain, low blood pressure, and hemolysis after outpatient hysteroscopy in a patient with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
OBJECTIVE
To report hemolytic crisis in a woman with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency who underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy using endoscopic instruments sterilized in gluteraldehyde and phenol disinfectant.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Surgical unit of a university hospital.


METHODS
A 53 year-old woman with endometrial thickening on ultrasonography.


METHODS
Diagnostic hysteroscopy.


METHODS
Laboratory tests.


RESULTS
The patient experienced abdominal pain and acute hypotension 10 minutes after diagnostic hysteroscopy. We attributed this event to the exposure of her genital mucosa caused by the hysteroscopic chemical disinfectant.


CONCLUSIONS
Chemical sterilization of endoscopes can cause clinical manifestations in people with G6PD deficiency, a common enzyme abnormality. The phenol content in some chemical disinfectants for endoscopic instruments can also cause hemolytic crisis.
De Angelis
Carlo
C
Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Rome La Sapienza, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy. cdeangelis@tiscalinet.it
Re
Maria Elisa
ME
Santoro
Giuseppina
G
D004202:Disinfectants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005955:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology*; D015907:Hysteroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000209:etiology*
D004202:Disinfectants