Accidental intra-arterial injection of papaveretum during anaesthesia

The circulatory depressant action of papaveretum was demonstrated when the drug was injected accidentally into the radial artery during neuroanaesthesia in the upright (sitting) position. The signs of air embolism were mimicked. The condition reponded promptly to a vasopressor given intravenously. There were no harmful sequelae to the patient's hand.