CARDIAC COMPLICATION FROM USE OF COCAINE AND PHENYLEPHRINE IN NASAL SEPTOPLASTY

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