Evaluation and management of acquired methemoglobinemia

Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Oct 2013

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Evaluation and management of acquired methemoglobinemia associated with topical benzocaine use.

Benzocaine is a widely used topical oropharyngeal anesthetic and has been reported to cause methemoglobinemia. We discuss benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia and review the causes, presentation, and management of this serious complication. Treatment with methylene blue will result in reversal of methemoglobinemia and clinical recovery in most cases but needs to be used at appropriate doses in carefully selected individuals. Physicians who perform procedures involving the application of benzocaine for topical anesthesia need to rapidly identify and treat methemoglobinemia to avoid significant associated morbidity and mortality.

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- Mohammed Taleb, Zubair Ashraf, Shahul Valavoor, and Jodi Tinkel.
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.
- Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2013 Oct 1;13(5):325-30.
AbstractBenzocaine is a widely used topical oropharyngeal anesthetic and has been reported to cause methemoglobinemia. We discuss benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia and review the causes, presentation, and management of this serious complication. Treatment with methylene blue will result in reversal of methemoglobinemia and clinical recovery in most cases but needs to be used at appropriate doses in carefully selected individuals. Physicians who perform procedures involving the application of benzocaine for topical anesthesia need to rapidly identify and treat methemoglobinemia to avoid significant associated morbidity and mortality.

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Evaluation and management of acquired methemoglobinemia associated with topical benzocaine use.

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