Nitrite-induced methaemoglobinaemia - aetiology, diagnosis and treatment

J S W Chui1, W T Poon, K C Chan

  • 1Department of Intensive Care, Hospital Authority Toxicology Reference Laboratory.

Anaesthesia
|April 12, 2005
PubMed

A 41-year-old woman presented with the clinical features of methaemoglobinaemia after drinking Chinese herbal medicine. A life threatening methaemoglobin level of 68% was measured. Both clinical and laboratory diagnostic difficulties were encountered. The pitfalls of pulse oximeter, blood gas analysis and co-oximeter interpretation during diagnosis and after methylene blue administration are discussed.

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