Perioperative Management of Undiagnosed Methaemoglobinaemia

Dr. Mahendrakar Sreevani, Dr. Rajapriya .R

Abstract: Methemoglobinemia is a rare and potentially life - threatening medical emergency that can be overlooked when evaluating a patient in respiratory distress. It is one of the causes for unexplained cyanosis with dark - coloured blood, especially in the absence of cardiac or pulmonary pathology. Without early recognition, patients may develop respiratory failure and die. This case report describes a child who posted for tympanoplasty who presented with ?chocolate - coloured blood? in the surgical field, despite blood gas analysis showing a normal partial pressure of oxygen.

Keywords: Methemoglobinemia, chocolate coloured blood, G - 6PD deficiency, desaturation, methylene blue