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Serious systemic toxicity resulting from use of tetracaine for pharyngeal anesthesia in upper endoscopic procedures

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Abstract

Three cases of serious systemic toxicity from tetracaine pharyngeal anesthesia for upper endoscopic procedures are described. The pathophysiologic basis for systemic toxicity is discussed and a recommendation for preendoscopic anesthesia is provided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Brockton/West Roxbury Veterans Administration Medical Center, Brockton, Massachusetts

    Dilip Patel MD, Sanjiv Chopra MD &  Marvin D. Berman MD

  2. Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

    Dilip Patel MD, Sanjiv Chopra MD &  Marvin D. Berman MD

  3. Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

    Dilip Patel MD, Sanjiv Chopra MD &  Marvin D. Berman MD

Authors
  1. Dilip Patel MD
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  2. Sanjiv Chopra MD
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  3. Marvin D. Berman MD
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Patel, D., Chopra, S. & Berman, M.D. Serious systemic toxicity resulting from use of tetracaine for pharyngeal anesthesia in upper endoscopic procedures. Digest Dis Sci 34, 882–884 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01540273

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01540273

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