Coring Revisited: A Case Report and Literature Review

Coring is the retention of material from a medication vial into the needle and syringe, which can ultimately be transfused into a patient, causing adverse outcomes. The purpose of this article is to increase awareness of this underreported finding and to propose solutions to improve the quality of care and decrease fatalities. A 65-year-old male with a significant cardiovascular history was admitted and required an emergent bedside esophagogastroduodenoscopy, for which propofol was being aspirated for IV induction. This resulted in the coring of the vial topper and subsequently a rubber piece in the syringe. The prevention of coring has largely focused on anticipating the shortcomings of currently available medication vials and aspiration techniques. However, these strategies have limitations. Further work can highlight risk-mitigating approaches such as different aspiration techniques, needle or vial types, and prefilled syringes. More importantly, these interventions may reduce perioperative morbidity and mortality.