Syringe Swaps

Case Synopsis

A healthy 32-year-old woman is scheduled for elective myomectomy. General endotracheal anesthesia is induced, and the surgeon requests a dose of prophylactic cefazolin. The anesthesiologist administers the contents of a 10-mL syringe but realizes immediately that he has given phenylephrine instead. He administers incremental doses of nitroglycerin to reduce the anticipated hypertension from the syringe swap. The patient suffers no apparent ill consequences.