Lidocaine-induced methemoglobinemia: a clinical reminder. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2015 Feb;115(2):94-8
Date
02/01/2015Pubmed ID
25637615DOI
10.7556/jaoa.2015.020Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84925297219 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 19 CitationsAbstract
Methemoglobinemia is a rare condition in which the iron in hemoglobin is stabilized in the ferric (Fe(3+)) form, making it unable to bind oxygen and leading to tissue hypoxia and possibly death. The condition may be hereditary or acquired, the latter resulting from ingestion or application of common oxidizing agents such as lidocaine. As management of methemoglobinemia depends on prompt recognition, clinicians who administer or prescribe oxidizing agents must be aware of the clinical symptoms of methemoglobinemia, including cyanosis, pulse oximetry values that do not respond to increased oxygen delivery, and altered mental status. Currently, methylene blue is the drug of choice for the management of methemoglobinemia.
Author List
Barash M, Reich KA, Rademaker DAuthor
Mark Barash DO Assistant Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Anesthetics, LocalHemoglobins
Humans
Lidocaine
Methemoglobinemia
Oxidants
