1. Intracranial hemorrhage after prehospital administration of intramuscular epinephrine.
- Author
-
Levis JT, Ford JB, and Kuo AM
- Subjects
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists administration & dosage, Adrenergic beta-Agonists administration & dosage, Aged, Epinephrine administration & dosage, Female, Humans, Injections, Intramuscular, Insect Bites and Stings drug therapy, Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive diagnostic imaging, Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive surgery, Radiography, Adrenergic alpha-Agonists adverse effects, Adrenergic beta-Agonists adverse effects, Epinephrine adverse effects, Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive chemically induced
- Abstract
Background: The administration of epinephrine by the intramuscular route can be life-saving in cases of anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions. However, the use of this drug can lead to a rapid rise in blood pressure, which theoretically could lead to deleterious effects in patients of any age, with elderly patients at greatest risk., Objectives: To present a rare case of intracranial hemorrhage potentially resulting from the administration of intramuscular epinephrine in an elderly patient with an allergic reaction., Case Report: We present a case report of a 65-year-old woman who developed an intracranial hemorrhage after a single, therapeutic, intramuscular dose of epinephrine for a wasp sting to the tongue. The patient underwent successful craniotomy with evacuation of the intracranial hematoma., Conclusions: In circumstances where the severity of the allergic reaction remains unclear (lack of airway compromise, cardiovascular collapse, or true anaphylaxis), careful consideration of the potential risks of intramuscular epinephrine, such as a rapid rise in blood pressure leading to intracranial hemorrhage, should be undertaken when using this medication in elderly patients., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF