[Iatrogenic gas embolism after the use of hydrogen peroxide].
We report a case of severe oxygen embolism after wound irrigation under pressure with hydrogen peroxide into a closed or partially closed cavity. The accident was observed during a surgical dressing of a large pelvis gangrene area, after a 250 ml injection of hydrogen peroxide. Suddenly occurred a decrease in PETCO(2) and SpO(2), and then heart arrhythmia. Symptomatic treatment initiated immediately restored SpO(2) and heart rhythm within a few minutes and the patient was then treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The patient recovered without cardiac or neurologic sequelae. The release of gaseous oxygen under the effect of tissue catalase and the vascular diffusion of this oxygen bubbles can explain such complication. Injection of large volume of hydrogen peroxide into a closed or partially closed cavity and/or under pressure injection must be prohibited.
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Service d'anesthésie-réanimation-I, hôpital Pellegrin, CHU de Bordeaux, place Amélie-Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
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