Inadvertent intra-arterial injection of phentaramine: a complication of drug abuse.

A female drug abuser inadvertently injected an intravenous injection of an oral anorexiant, phentaramine (Preludin), into her own brachial artery. Severe hand pain, vasospasm, and ischemia occurred. Treatment with regional axillary block, intravenous dextran, intra-arterial priscoline, and salicylate anticoagulation may have influenced a favorable outcome. Intimal damage, vasospasm, and various additive effects after intra-arterial injection contribute to the potential for serious sequelae. Prompt diagnosis, vasodilatation, elevation and compression, pain relief and, in some cases, surgery appear to improve salvage of what is frequently a major extremity injury.