Premium
A study into the incidence of methaemoglobinaemia after ‘three‐in‐one’ block with prilocaine
Author(s) -
Bellamy M. C.,
Hopkins P. M.,
Halsall P. J.,
Ellis F. R.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1992.tb04212.x
Subject(s) - medicine , prilocaine , pulse oximetry , anesthesia , methemoglobinemia , methemoglobin , incidence (geometry) , nerve block , local anaesthetic , hemoglobin , local anesthetic , physics , optics
Summary A 34‐year‐old female patient developed methaemoglobinaemia following a femoral nerve block using prilocaine. The concentrations of methaemoglobin in the blood of the next eight patients receiving this block were assayed, and found to be significantly increased above baseline concentrations, but very significantly less than the concentration in the patient with symptomatic methaemoglobinaemia. Pulse oximetry was of value in making the diagnosis.