Drug-induced methemoglobinemia during thoracoscopic lung biopsy

Acquired methemoglobinemia occurs rarely in clinical practice. We present a case of a 57-year-old man who developed severe drug-induced methemoglobinemia after exposure to benzocaine spray and lidocaine jelly during intubation for an elective thoracoscopic lung biopsy. Information regarding the classifications, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this entity is reviewed.