Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Clinical/Perinatal Neonatal Case Presentation
  • Published:

Clinical Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation

Phentolamine Use in a Neonate for the Prevention of Dermal Necrosis Caused by Dopamine: A Case Report

Journal of Perinatology volume 21, pages 324–326 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Skin ischemia, necrosis, and gangrene are uncommon but known complications of dopamine extravasation. In most cases, these complications are associated with the use of high-dosage dopamine infusion. Subcutaneous phentolamine has been used as a therapeutic agent for these complications. However, this is the report of the first neonatal case report in the English literature of prompt reversal of imminent dermal ischemia and necrosis associated with low-dose dopamine infusion using subcutaneous phentolamine.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alexander CS, Sako Y, Mikulic E Pedal gangrene associated with the use of dopamine N Engl J Med 1975 293 591

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Valdes ME Post-dopamine ischemia treated with chlorpromazine (letter) N Engl J Med 1976 295 1081–2

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Nogler R, Keibel M Dopamine-induced gangrene J Maine Med Assoc 1978 69 47

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Golbranson FL, Lurie L, Vance RM, Vandell RF Multiple extremity amputations in hypotensive patients treated with dopamine J Am Med Assoc 1980 243 1145–6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Gibbs NM, Oh TE Nitroglycerine ointment for dopamine-induced peripheral digital ischemia (letter) Lancet 1983 2 290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ross M Dopamine-induced localized cutaneous vasoconstriction and piloerection (letter) Arch Dermatol 1991 127 586–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Boltax RS, Dineen JP, Scarpa FJ Gangrene resulting from infiltrated dopamine solution (letter) N Engl J Med 1977 296 823

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ebels T, Homan van der Heide JN Dopamine-induced ischemia (letter) Lancet 1977 2 762

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Stetson JB, Reading GP Avoidance of vascular complications associated with the use of dopamine Can Anesth Soc J 1977 24 727–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Siwy BK, Sadove AM Acute management of dopamine infiltration injury with Regitine Plast Reconstr Surg 1987 80 610–2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wong AF, McCullah LM Treatment of peripheral tissue ischemia with topical nitroglycerin ointment in neonates J Pediatr 1992 121 980–3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Denkler KA, Cohen BE Reversal of dopamine extravasation injury with topical nitroglycerin ointment Plast Reconstr Surg 1989 84 811

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Julka NK, Nora JR Gangrene aggravation after use of dopamine (letter) J Am Med Assoc 1976 235 2812

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Green SI, Smith JW Dopamine gangrene (letter) N Engl J Med 1976 294 114

    Google Scholar 

  15. Cooper BE High-dose phentolamine for extravasation of pressors (letter) Clin Pharm 1989 8 689

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Chen JL, O'Shea M Extravasation injury associated with low-dose dopamine Ann Pharmacother 1998 32 (5) 545–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Denton R, Slater R Just how benign is renal dopamine Eur J Anesthesiol 1997 14 (4) 347–9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Package insert Regitine (Phentolamine mesylate injection, USP) Woodbridge, NJ: Ciba Pharmaceuticals 1999

  19. Bey D, El-Chaar GM, Bierman F, Valderrama E The use of phentolamine in the prevention of dopamine-induced tissue extravasation J Crit Care 1998 13 (1) 13–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, HSC 11-060, SUNY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, 11794-8111, NY

    Muhammad Subhani MD, Shanthy Sridhar MD & Joseph D DeCristofaro MD

Authors
  1. Muhammad Subhani MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shanthy Sridhar MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joseph D DeCristofaro MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Subhani, M., Sridhar, S. & DeCristofaro, J. Phentolamine Use in a Neonate for the Prevention of Dermal Necrosis Caused by Dopamine: A Case Report. J Perinatol 21, 324–326 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7200493

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7200493

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links