Description

A 46-year-old man was transferred from an outside hospital for evaluation of acute renal failure and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. During his initial presentation at the outside hospital, the patient was profoundly hypotensive with signs of respiratory failure. Owing to the perceived urgency, he was started on norepinephrine for haemodynamic support through a peripheral intravenous line. Following the resolution of haemodynamic instability, the patient was noted to have a large subcutaneous lesion on his right forearm around his peripheral intravenous site. The lesion consisted of a large serous bullae and exhibited marked pallor, coldness and mottling of the skin. The patient underwent mechanical debridement of the necrotic tissue and was treated with topical silver sulfadiazine.

Norepinephrine is an ɑ-adrenergic agonist commonly used for the treatment of shock. A well-known side effect of norepinephrine is the potential for subcutaneous tissue ischaemia in the event of inadvertent extravasation. When extravasation from a peripheral cannula occurs, the relatively high concentration of epinephrine in both the recipient vein and adjacent blood vessels induce subcutaneous tissue ischaemia through marked vasoconstriction and increased vascular permeability (figure 1).1–3 Cases of skin necrosis with peripheral infusions continue to be seen despite longstanding awareness that vasopressors need to be administered through a central venous catheter for rapid dilution.2 Treatment of extravasation injuries includes prompt discontinuation of the peripheral intravenous infusion, and the administration of a pharmacological vasodilator such as phentolamine, an ɑ-adrenergic antagonist.3 Should subcutaneous necrosis occur, general wound care measures such as mechanical debridement are recommended.

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Figure 1

Subcutaneous tissue ischaemia of right forearm following extravasation of norepinephrine during peripheral intravenous infusion.