Discussion Primary care physicians (Family Physicians and General Internists) perform
many of the endoscopies in this country (eg, approximately 17% of upper GI endoscopies in …

Benzocaine administration to facilitate upper endoscopic procedures can result in the
relatively uncommon but potentially fatal complication known as methemoglobinemia. For …

DISCUSSION Methemoglobinemia is a known and potentially fatal complication of the
topical use of benzocaine before upper endoscopy that has been well characterized in …

Background Methemoglobinemia (MHb) is characterized by abnormal levels of oxidized
hemoglobin that cannot bind and transport oxygen. When induced by benzocaine anesthetic …

DISCUSSION Methemoglobin comprises 1% of hemoglobin due to the presence of effective
erythrocyte enzyme systems (5). Methemoglobinemia may result from globin chain mutation …

Methemoglobinemia is a rare complication that can occur with the use of benzocaine-
containing compounds. Two cases of methemoglobinemia are reported, and the …

Benzocaine is generally thought to be safe, with rare side effects [1, 2], and is routinely used
for topical anesthesia prior to upper endoscopy. We describe a case of methemoglobinemia …

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of methemoglobinemia induced by benzocaine in a patient
undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy. CASE SUMMARY: Before undergoing an upper …

Topically applied anesthetic spray is commonly used as part of premedication for general
anesthesia and for endoscopic procedures; it is rarely associated with side effects. In this …

Allergic reactions tend to be easily recognized and treated, but methemoglobinemia is a
rare, life-threatening complication of topical anesthesia of which our staff was unaware until …