Biomaterial Database

Methemoglobinemia: an unusual complication of topical anesthesia. 1998

P Maher

St. Joseph Health Center-Endoscopy Suite, St. Charles, MO 63301, USA.

Allergic reactions tend to be easily recognized and treated, but methemoglobinemia is a rare, life-threatening complication of topical anesthesia of which our staff was unaware until recently. Team work prevented a patient fatality. Directives to alert the staff to suspect methemoglobinemia in patients who develop cyanosis and decreased oxygen saturation levels after administration of topical anesthesia despite administration of oxygen will prevent fatalities in the future.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008708	Methemoglobinemia	The presence of methemoglobin in the blood, resulting in cyanosis. A small amount of methemoglobin is present in the blood normally, but injury or toxic agents convert a larger proportion of hemoglobin into methemoglobin, which does not function reversibly as an oxygen carrier. Methemoglobinemia may be due to a defect in the enzyme NADH methemoglobin reductase (an autosomal recessive trait) or to an abnormality in hemoglobin M (an autosomal dominant trait). (Dorland, 27th ed)	Methemoglobinemias
D008751	Methylene Blue	A compound consisting of dark green crystals or crystalline powder, having a bronze-like luster. Solutions in water or alcohol have a deep blue color. Methylene blue is used as a bacteriologic stain and as an indicator. It inhibits GUANYLATE CYCLASE, and has been used to treat cyanide poisoning and to lower levels of METHEMOGLOBIN.	Methylthionine Chloride,Swiss Blue,Basic Blue 9,Chromosmon,Methylene Blue N,Methylthioninium Chloride,Urolene Blue,Blue 9, Basic,Blue N, Methylene,Blue, Methylene,Blue, Swiss,Blue, Urolene
D010129	4-Aminobenzoic Acid	An aminobenzoic acid isomer that combines with pteridine and GLUTAMIC ACID to form FOLIC ACID. The fact that 4-aminobenzoic acid absorbs light throughout the UVB range has also resulted in its use as an ingredient in SUNSCREENS.	PABA,p-Aminobenzoic Acid,para-Aminobenzoic Acid,4-Aminobenzoic Acid, Potassium Salt,Aminobenzoic Acid (USP),Epit Vit,Epitelplast,Hachemina,Magnesium para-Aminobenzoate,Pabasan,Paraminan,Paraminol,Potaba,Potassium 4-Aminobenzoate,Potassium Aminobenzoate,4 Aminobenzoic Acid,4 Aminobenzoic Acid, Potassium Salt,4-Aminobenzoate, Potassium,Aminobenzoate, Potassium,Potassium 4 Aminobenzoate,p Aminobenzoic Acid,para Aminobenzoic Acid,para-Aminobenzoate, Magnesium
D002593	Cetrimonium Compounds	Cetyltrimethylammonium compounds that have cationic detergent, antiseptic, and disinfectant activities. They are used in pharmaceuticals, foods, and cosmetics as preservatives; on skin, mucous membranes, etc., as antiseptics or cleansers, and also as emulsifiers. These compounds are toxic when used orally due to neuromuscular blockade.	Cetyltrimethylammonium Compounds,Cetrimides,Compounds, Cetrimonium,Compounds, Cetyltrimethylammonium
D004338	Drug Combinations	Single preparations containing two or more active agents, for the purpose of their concurrent administration as a fixed dose mixture.	Drug Combination,Combination, Drug,Combinations, Drug
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D000779	Anesthetics, Local	Drugs that block nerve conduction when applied locally to nerve tissue in appropriate concentrations. They act on any part of the nervous system and on every type of nerve fiber. In contact with a nerve trunk, these anesthetics can cause both sensory and motor paralysis in the innervated area. Their action is completely reversible. (From Gilman AG, et. al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed) Nearly all local anesthetics act by reducing the tendency of voltage-dependent sodium channels to activate.	Anesthetics, Conduction-Blocking,Conduction-Blocking Anesthetics,Local Anesthetic,Anesthetics, Topical,Anesthetic, Local,Anesthetics, Conduction Blocking,Conduction Blocking Anesthetics,Local Anesthetics,Topical Anesthetics
D000931	Antidotes	Agents counteracting or neutralizing the action of POISONS.	Antidote,Theriacs