Tissue Necrosis Following Subcutaneous Infiltration with Nor-Epinephrine

NOR–EPINEPHRINE has recently come into wide use in the treatment of hypotensive states of medical or surgical origin.1 2 3 4 Review of the literature does not reveal any reports of adverse skin reaction, with one exception: Deterling and Apgar5 allude briefly to minor ulceration following the infiltration of tissues with nor-epinephrine. Among the 55 patients who have received nor-epinephrine in this hospital, 2 have recently been observed in whom extensive necrosis developed within forty-eight hours after subcutaneous leakage of nor-epinephrine from an intravenous infusion. The purpose of this report is to warn physicians of this reaction and to suggest an expedient for . . .