Cardiac arrest following hydrogen peroxide irrigation of a breast wound

Received 4 June 2009; accepted 8 July 2009. published online 27 July 2009.

Summary

Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used for the decontamination of wounds.1 We report a case of a probable venous oxygen embolism resulting in cardiovascular collapse following irrigation of a necrotic breast wound with hydrogen peroxide. We discuss the differential diagnosis, mechanism of oxygen embolism and question the relative advantages versus disadvantages of using hydrogen peroxide for wound decontamination.

Keywords: Hydrogen peroxide, Contaminated wound, Lavage, Venous oxygen embolism

a Department of Anaesthesia, St John's Hospital, Howden, West Lothian, EH54 6PP, UK

b Department of Plastic Surgery, St John's Hospital, Howden, West Lothian, EH54 6PP, UK

Corresponding author. C/o Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA, UK. Tel.: +44 131 242 3224; fax: +44 131 242 3225.

PII: S1748-6815(09)00523-3

doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2009.07.012

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