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European Journal of Echocardiography 2006 7(6):470-472; doi:10.1016/j.euje.2005.09.004
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Copyright © 2005, The European Society of Cardiology

Methemoglobinemia revisited: An important complication after transesophageal echocardiography

Constantine Tsigrelis* and Leonard Weiner1

Department of Internal Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, One Robert Wood Johnson Place, MEB 486, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA

Received 19 June 2005; received in revised form 29 September 2005; accepted after revision 29 September 2005.

weinerle{at}umdnj.edu

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 732 235 7742 (work), +1 732 672 5215 (mobile); fax: +1 732 235 7427. tsigreco{at}umdnj.edu dr_tsigrelis{at}yahoo.com


  Abstract

Methemoglobinemia induced by the use of benzocaine-containing topical anesthetics is a rare, but potentially lethal complication after transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). We report a patient who developed methemoglobinemia after TEE. A review of the literature was performed and the majority of cases of benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia reported thus far have occurred in patients undergoing TEE, endotracheal intubation, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and bronchoscopy. All of these procedures have become more frequent than before, and there is a need to reemphasize the potential problem and to reconsider the need for further use of topical anesthetics.

Keywords: Methemoglobinemia; Benzocaine; Transesophageal echocardiography

1 Tel.: +1 201 320 6262 (mobile).


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Z. Jaffery and K. Ananthasubramaniam
A rare side effect of transesophageal echocardiography: methemoglobinemia from topical benzocaine anesthesia
Eur J Echocardiogr, March 1, 2008; 9(2): 289 - 290.
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