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Iatrogenic Digital Gangrene: Report of a Case
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The rationale of this report is to highlight warning signals and to suggest methods of minimizing the severity of the gangrene.
METHOD: A 20 year old male developed gangrene of the right thumb, index and middle fingers following what was suspected to be an accidental intra-arterial injection of ketamine as an anaesthetic agent.
RESULTS: Dry gangrene of the right thumb, index and middle fingers and of the right thenar eminence
CONCLUSION: During administration of any intravenous drug (including and especially anaesthetic agent), aspiration of bright red blood should alert the doctor that an artery has been cannulated. Pulsation (if elicited) along the vessel concerned should be confirmatory, and such injection discontinued.
Nig Jnl Orthopaedics & Trauma Vol.2(2) 2003: 134-136
METHOD: A 20 year old male developed gangrene of the right thumb, index and middle fingers following what was suspected to be an accidental intra-arterial injection of ketamine as an anaesthetic agent.
RESULTS: Dry gangrene of the right thumb, index and middle fingers and of the right thenar eminence
CONCLUSION: During administration of any intravenous drug (including and especially anaesthetic agent), aspiration of bright red blood should alert the doctor that an artery has been cannulated. Pulsation (if elicited) along the vessel concerned should be confirmatory, and such injection discontinued.
Nig Jnl Orthopaedics & Trauma Vol.2(2) 2003: 134-136
