The Need for Caution with Topical Anesthesia during Endoscopic Procedures, as Liberal Use May Result in Methemoglobinemia

Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology

Volumn 38, Issue 3, 2004, Pages 225-229

  Byrne, Michael F ^a,b   Mitchell, Robert M ^a   Gerke, Henning ^a   Goller, Sandra ^a   Stiffler, Helen L ^a   Golioto, Michael ^a   Branch, Malcolm S ^a   Jowell, Paul S ^a   Baillie, John ^a  

^a DUKE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER   (United States)

^b VANCOUVER GENERAL HOSPITAL   (Canada)

Author keywords

Benzocaine; Cetacaine; Methemoglobinemia; Methylene blue; Topical anesthesia

Indexed keywords

BENZOCAINE; CETACAINE; LIDOCAINE; METHYLENE BLUE;

ADULT; AGED; ARTICLE; CASE REPORT; CLINICAL FEATURE; CLINICAL PRACTICE; DISEASE COURSE; DRUG SAFETY; EARLY DIAGNOSIS; ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY; FATALITY; FEMALE; HUMAN; MALE; METHEMOGLOBINEMIA; OXYGEN THERAPY; PRIORITY JOURNAL; TOPICAL ANESTHESIA; TREATMENT OUTCOME; TREATMENT PLANNING;

4-AMINOBENZOIC ACID; ADMINISTRATION, TOPICAL; AGED; ANESTHETICS, LOCAL; BENZALKONIUM COMPOUNDS; BENZOCAINE; CETRIMONIUM COMPOUNDS; CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY, ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE; DRUG COMBINATIONS; FEMALE; HUMANS; MALE; METHEMOGLOBINEMIA; MIDDLE AGED; TETRACAINE;

EID: 1242352562     PISSN: 01920790     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1097/00004836-200403000-00006     Document Type: Article

References (25)

1. Karim A, Ahmed S, Siddiqui R, et al. Methemoglobinemia complicating topical lidocaine used during endoscopic procedures. Am J Med. 2001;111:150-153.
2. Gunaratnam NT, Vazquez-Sequeiros E, Gostout CJ, et al. Methemoglobinemia related to topical benzocaine use: is it time to reconsider the empiric use of topical anesthesia before sedated EGD? Gastrointest Endosc. 2000;52:692-693.
3. Collins JF. Methemoglobinemia as a complication of 20% benzocaine spray for endoscopy. Gastroenterology. 1990;98:211-213.
4. Kern K, Langevin PB, Dunn BM. Methemoglobinemia after topical anesthesia with lidocaine and benzocaine for a difficult intubation. J Clin Anesth. 2000;12:167-172.
5. Brown CM, Levy SA, Susann PW. Methemoglobinemia: life-threatening complication of endoscopy premedication. Am J Gastroenterol. 1994;89:1108-1109.
6. Nguyen ST, Cabrales RE, Bashour CA, et al. Benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia. Anesth Analg. 2000;90:369-371.
7. Ellis FD, Seiler JG 3rd, Palmore MM Jr. Methemoglobinemia: a complication after fiberoptic orotracheal intubation with benzocaine spray. A case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1995;77:937-939.
8. Buckley AB, Newman A. Methemoglobinemia occurring after the use of a 20% benzocaine topical anesthetic prior to gastroscopy. Gastrointest Endosc. 1987;33:466-467.
9. Wright RO, Lewander WJ, Woolf AD. Methemoglobinemia: etiology, pharmacology, and clinical management. Ann Emerg Med. 1999;34:646-656.
10. Curry S. Methemoglobinemia. Ann Emerg Med. 1982;11:214-221.
11. Clary B, Skaryak L, Tedder M, et al. Methemoglobinemia complicating topical anesthesia during bronchoscopic procedures. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1997;114:293-295.
12. Coleman MD, Coleman NA. Drug-induced methemoglobinemia. Treatment issues. Drug Saf. 1996;14:394-405.
13. Hall AH, Kulig KW, Rumack BH. Drug- and chemical-induced methemoglobinemia. Clinical features and management. Med Toxicol. 1986;1:253-260.
14. Jackson SL. Reversing methemoglobinemia. Nursing (Lond). 1992;22:33.
15. Barker SJ, Tremper KK, Hyatt J. Effects of methemoglobinemia on pulse oximetry and mixed venous oximetry. Anesthesiology. 1989;70:112-117.
16. Guerriero SE. Methemoglobinemia caused by topical benzocaine. Pharmacotherapy. 1997;17:1038-1040.
17. Mansouri A, Lurie AA. Concise review: methemoglobinemia. Am J Hematol. 1993;42:7-12.
18. Currie JL, Mott LA, Pennisi SC, et al. Potential for an external vaginal anti-itch cream containing benzocaine to cause methemoglobinemia in healthy women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1997;176:1006-1008.
19. Ferraro-Borgida MJ, Mulhem SA, DeMeo MO, et al. Methemoglobinemia from perineal application of an anesthetic cream. Ann Emerg Med. 1996;27:785-788.
20. Guertler AT, Lagutchik MS, Martin DG. Topical anesthetic-induced methemoglobinemia in sheep: a comparison of benzocaine and lidocaine. Fundam Appl Toxicol. 1992;18:294-298.
21. Martin DG, Watson CE, Gold MB, et al. Topical anesthetic-induced methemoglobinemia and sulfhemoglobinemia in macaques: a comparison of benzocaine and lidocaine. J Appl Toxicol. 1995;15:153-158.
22. O'Donohue WJ Jr, Moss LM, Angelillo VA. Acute methemoglobinemia induced by topical benzocaine and lidocaine. Arch Intern Med. 1980;140:1508-1509.
23. Khorasani A, Candido KD, Ghaleb AH, et al. Canister tip orientation and residual volume have significant impact on the dose of benzocaine delivered by Hurricane spray. Anesth Analg. 2001;92:379-383.
24. Abdallah HY, Shah SA. Methemoglobinemia induced by topical benzocaine: a warning for the endoscopist. Endoscopy. 2002;34:730-734.
25. Chuah SY, Crowson CP, Dronfield MW. Topical anaesthesia in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Br Med J. 1991;303:695.