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Absorption of Topical Cocaine in Rhinologic Procedures
Author(s) -
Greinwald John H.,
Holtel Michael R.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-199610000-00009
Subject(s) - nasal administration , absorption (acoustics) , anesthesia , medicine , mucous membrane of nose , pharmacology , pathology , physics , acoustics
Although topical intranasal cocaine remains a common anesthetic in nasal surgery, controversy surrounds its dosage and mucosal absorption. A prospective study of 12 patients undergoing nasal surgery was performed to evaluate the absorption of cocaine solution from standard cotton pledgets. Of a 160‐mg cocaine solution applied, a mean amount of 102 mg or 63.8% was recovered by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. Similar analysis of nasopharyngeal packs revealed less than 1.5% cocaine loss in the nasopharynx. Serum levels of cocaine were rarely detectable and did not correlate with either the amount of nasal absorption or time of mucosal contact. These results indicate that less than 37% of cocaine is absorbed from cotton pledgets during nasal surgery. The cocaine dose of 160 mg, used by many otolaryngologists, did not result in significant plasma levels. Laryngoscope, 106:1223‐1225, 1996