Acute pulmonary edema after local infiltration of epinephrine during mastoidectomy: A case report

A mixture of local anesthetic and epinephrine provides hemostasis for ear microsurgery. However, epinephrine has adverse cardiovascular effects, such as arrhythmia, pulmonary edema, and even cardiac arrest. We have experienced catecholamine-induced cardiovascular crisis, with severe hypertension, tachycardia, and acute pulmonary edema, after subcutaneous infiltration with a 2% lidocaine and 1:200,000 epinephrine solution. The patient recovered without any apparent sequelae after intensive care, including diuretics, steroids, and nitroglycerin for the hypertension and pulmonary edema, and a vasopressor for the subsequent hypotension.