Investigation of Methemoglobinemia Development and Associated Factors in Patients Using Local Anesthetic Agents During Pacemaker, Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator, and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Device Implantation or Generator Replaceme

OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the frequency of methemoglobin development and identify associated factors in patients undergoing Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) procedures with the local anesthetic prilocaine.

METHOD
Data from 64 patients were analyzed. The patients' methemoglobin levels before and after the procedure were measured and compared. The relationships between the results and factors such as creatinine, hemoglobin, BMI, and the amount of prilocaine used were examined. Exclusion criteria included: age under 18 years, pregnancy, breastfeeding, malignancy, chemotherapy, hemoglobin chain disorders, liver failure, and renal failure (GFR <60 ml/min), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, other hypoxic lung diseases and smoker patients.

RESULTS
Methemoglobin levels were significantly higher in the first hour after the procedure (p < 0.001). Oxygen saturation levels were significantly lower during the first hour post-procedure (p < 0.001). In the group with elevated methemoglobin levels after the procedure, creatinine levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001), while BMI (p < 0.001) and hemoglobin levels (p < 0.001) were significantly lower. No significant relationship was found with ALT levels (p = 0.425).

CONCLUSION
While significant methemoglobin elevation was observed following ICD/CRT procedures with prilocaine, clinically significant methemoglobinemia cases are rare. A significant relationship was identified between methemoglobin elevation and BMI, hemoglobin, and creatinine.