[Acute ischemia after intraarterial drug injection]

Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2004 Nov 5;129(45):2405-8. doi: 10.1055/s-2004-835277.
[Article in German]

Abstract

History and clinical findings: A 36-year-old patient presented with a severe hand ischemia after intraarterial injection of four dissolved tablets of Methylphenidate each 10 mg (Ritalin into the right radial artery.

Investigations: Non-invasive vascular diagnostic demonstrated a normal perfusion of the radial and ulnar artery and a severe ischemia of the small vessels of the right hand.

Treatment and course: Under suspicion of a combined vaso-spastic and thromboembolic arterial occlusion we started an intraarterial lysis therapy followed by anticoagulation with heparin and infusions of prostaglandines. Despite this therapy necroses of three fingers developed; partial amputation was followed by a good wound healing.

Conclusions: Ischemia of an extremity after intraarterial injection of drugs is a vascular emergency.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Amputation, Surgical
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anticoagulants / administration & dosage
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / administration & dosage
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / adverse effects*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Emergencies
  • Fingers / blood supply*
  • Fingers / pathology
  • Fingers / surgery
  • Heparin / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Iloprost / administration & dosage
  • Iloprost / therapeutic use
  • Injections, Intra-Arterial / adverse effects*
  • Ischemia / chemically induced*
  • Ischemia / diagnosis
  • Ischemia / drug therapy
  • Ischemia / pathology
  • Ischemia / surgery
  • Male
  • Methylphenidate / administration & dosage
  • Methylphenidate / adverse effects*
  • Necrosis
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Prednisone / administration & dosage
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Prostaglandins / administration & dosage
  • Prostaglandins / therapeutic use
  • Radial Artery*
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Anticoagulants
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Prostaglandins
  • Methylphenidate
  • Heparin
  • Iloprost
  • Prednisone