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Published on: August 30, 2011
Cardiac arrest after oxymetazoline nasal spray
1Department of Anesthesiology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33612-4799, USA.
Abstract:
Oxymetazoline nasal spray is a potent alpha 1-adrenergic agonist commonly used to vasoconstrict blood vessels in the nasal mucosa. In this incident, oxymetazoline nasal spray 0.025% was administered to a 2-year-old patient during general anesthesia for nasal endoscopy. Severe hypertension with reflex bradycardia progressed to sinus arrest and was successfully treated with alropine and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Decreasing the dose of oxymetazoline and pretreatment with an anticholinergic is recommended.
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