Compartment syndrome resulting from intravenous regional anesthesia

Three cases of iatrogenic compartment syndrome of the upper extremity are reported. Each was the result of the use of hypertonic saline solution in the administration of intravenous regional anesthesia. Two patients were left with residual problems after resolution of the compartment syndrome despite early surgical intervention in one of these cases. This mechanism may explain other previously reported occurrences of severe swelling in an extremity after intravenous regional anesthesia.