PERIPHERAL EMBOLISM BY METALLIC MERCURY DURING ARTERIAL BLOOD SAMPLING

Abstract

ANAEROBIC* blood sampling from a peripheral vessel is a useful and often essential procedure in many diagnostic and experimental studies. Stadie¹ originally used mineral oil in the syringe to prevent contact between the blood and air. During the past 10 years the technique of sealing heparinized syringes with metallic mercury has been widely employed. The purpose of the present report is to point out an inherent danger in this technique which has apparently not been appreciated. In two different laboratories peripheral embolism has resulted from the accidental introduction of mercury into the arterial stream during blood sampling when syringes were prepared in the accepted manner. PREPARATION OF SYRINGES Two or three drops of metallic mercury were added to 20 cc. heparinized Luer-Lok syringes. Excess mercury was expressed prior to sampling by inverting the syringe and slowly advancing the plunger as far as possible, so that only the nozzle and