Chemical burn injury secondary to intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography.
We describe a case of a 72-yr-old male who suffered aerodigestive tract chemical injury resulting from a probable post-processing residual of the high-level disinfectant solution Cidex OPA (ortho-phthalaldehyde) used to disinfect the transesophageal echocardiogram probe used for cardiac monitoring during general anesthesia. This case highlights the need for strict adherence to manufacturers' instructions when using chemical disinfectants for transesophageal echocardiogram probe reprocessing.


CONCLUSIONS
We describe a case of aerodigestive tract chemical injury resulting from a probable post-processing residual of the high level disinfectant solution Cidex OPA (ortho-phthalaldehyde) used to disinfect the transesophageal echocardiogram probe used during general anesthesia.
Departments of *Anesthesiology, †Vascular Surgery, and ‡Infection Control, Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX 78236.
Steven G
SG
Venticinque
Vikram S
VS
Kashyap
Robert J
RJ
O'Connell
D000368:Aged; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000209:etiology*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects*
D004202:Disinfectants; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde