Ultra-high dose trimethaphan in an infant with severe hypertension

Trimethaphan camsylate is a potent antihypertensive drug used to induce systemic arterial hypotension in patients undergoing major surgery and to treat severe systemic hypertension. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of trimethaphan administered in the usual clinical dosages have been previously reported. The effects of trimethaphan when administered in very high doses of 500-1000 times the usual dose have not been reported.

A case is presented of an infant with severe hypertension who inadvertently received such an overdose of trimethaphan.