Cardiac Complication From Use of Cocaine and Phenylephrine in Nasal Septoplasty

Cocaine hydrochloride is widely used as a topical anesthetic for otolaryngologic surgery. Cardiovascular complications, including myocardial injury, are well-documented side effects of illicit cocaine use. We describe a 23-year-old woman without coronary artery disease who had an acute non-Q-wave myocardial infarction and stunned myocardium after receiving topical phenylephrine hydrochloride and cocaine anesthesia for elective nasal septoplasty. These cases are rare; however, we hope to heighten the awareness of the potential lethal complications of using cocaine, phenylephrine, or the combination of both as topical anesthetics in otolaryngologic practice.