Deafness and prolonged neuromuscular blockade following single-dose peritoneal neomycin irrigation.

PURPOSE A case of deafness is reported in a patient undergoing bilateral nephrectomy after single irrigation of the peritoneal cavity with a neomycin containing solution for surgical prophylaxis. CLINICAL FEATURES In this patient, profound, late-postoperative deafness was heralded by prolonged neuromuscular blockade and respiratory insufficiency. Additional risk factors for ototoxicity in this particular patient included the presence of end-stage renal disease requiring daily peritoneal dialysis and, possibly, the concomitant use of clonazepam and clindamycin. CONCLUSIONS Antibiotic irrigation solutions containing neomycin may produce unwanted adverse systemic effects of deafness and prolonged neuromuscular blockade, even with only brief application within the peritoneal cavity. Concurrent end-stage renal disease, visceral inflammation from chronic dialysis and laparotomy, and the concomitant use of other medications may have contributed to these unwanted effects.