Search

Home > Emergency Medical Minute > Podcast #322: Methemoglobinemia
Podcast: Emergency Medical Minute
Episode:

Podcast #322: Methemoglobinemia

Category: Science & Medicine
Duration: 00:04:37
Publish Date: 2018-04-27 11:00:00
Description:

Author: Nick Hatch, M.D.

Educational Pearls:

 

  • Methemoglobinemia is when the iron in hemoglobin is in the Fe3+ (ferric) state rather than the normal Fe2+  (ferrous) state. Methemoglobin cannot release oxygen at the tissues.
  • Symptoms include cyanosis, headache, tachycardia, dyspnea, and lethargy.
  • Suspect in setting of hypoxia that does not improve with oxygenation, and clinical cyanosis with a normal PaO2 on ABG.
  • Treatment is methylene blue which reduces the iron back to the ferrous state.
  • Causes can be Dapsone, Lidocaine, Benzocaine.

 

References:

Agarwal N, Nagel RL, Prchal JT. Dyshemoglobinemias. In: Disorders of Hemoglobin: Genetics, Pathophysiology, and Clinical Management, 2nd ed, Steinberg M (Ed), 2009. P.607

Cortazzo JA, Lichtman AD. (2014). Methemoglobinemia: a review and recommendations for management. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. 28:1043.

Darling R, Roughton F. (1942). The effect of methemoglobin on the equilibrium between oxygen and hemoglobin. American Journal of Physiology. 137:56.

Total Play: 0

Users also like

800+ Episodes
Radioresepsj .. 700+     10+
20+ Episodes
Lung Story S .. 70+     10+