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Updated: Oct 15, 2025

Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
Published on: August 24, 2011
Anesthetic experience: congenital methemoglobinemia due to hemoglobin M
Hyunsu Ri1, Youngje Park1, Younghoon Jeon1,2
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Methemoglobinemia is rare. It is classified into two types: congenital methemoglobinemia and acquired methemoglobinemia. Methemoglobin is incapable of binding oxygen, leading to complications such as cyanosis, dyspnea, headache, and heart failure. In the present case, a 35-year-old man with congenital methemoglobinemia underwent general anesthesia for thyroidectomy. The patient was diagnosed with hemoglobin M at 7 years of age. Ventilation was performed with FiO2 1.0. Arterial blood gas analysis showed that the pH was 7.4, PaO2 439 mmHg, PaCO2 40.5 mmHg, oxyhemoglobin level of 83.2%, and methemoglobin level of 15.5%. The patient had a stable course, although cyanosis was observed during surgery.
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