Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2006 May;49(5):575-578.

Two Case of Acute Pulmonary Edema due to Local Epinephrine Injection during Tonsillectomy

• Son WS
• Park BC
• Yu J
• Baek HI

Abstract

Epinephrine is used to control bleeding and clear operative field during tonsillectomy procedure by local and general anesthesia. But epinephrine also has many adverse effects, such as palpitation, headache, hypertension, arrhythmia, tachycardia, anxiety and some significantly more dangerous conditions including intracranial hemorrhage, pulmonary edema, cardiac arrest, etc. We have experienced two acute pulmonary edema owing to infiltration of epinephrine during tonsillectomy, where the condition of patients rapidly became more serious. We performed intensive care and ventilation therapy. In all cases, patients were recovered after intensive care and additional postoperative complication has not been detected until now. We report these cases with literature.

Keyword

Epinephrine; Tonsillectomy; Pulmonary edema

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General
Anxiety
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Epinephrine*
Headache
Heart Arrest
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hypertension
Critical Care
Intracranial Hemorrhages
Postoperative Complications
Pulmonary Edema*
Tachycardia
Tonsillectomy*
Ventilation
Epinephrine