A case of skin necrosis following pethidine intravenous injection

Abstract

Pethidine is an opioid derivative typically used to treat moderate-to-severe pain. It has a good analgesic effect and is considered safe, although with adverse effects such as nausea, depression, vomiting, respiratory depression, and toxicity. We discuss the case of a 43-year-old female patient who received intravenous pethidine and developed skin necrosis in multiple areas of the body as a complication and how it was managed. This is the first report in the literature discussing skin necrosis after intravenous pethidine.