Abstract
Clevidipine is a short acting calcium channel blocker commonly used to treat uncontrolled hypertension. The common side-effects include depression, dizziness, and headache. Hypoxia from intrapulmonary shunting after clevidipine use has not been widely reported in the literature. We present a case of acute type B aortic dissection treated with esmolol and clevidipine complicated by hypoxia which resolved post discontinuation of clevidipine. LEARNING POINTS: Clevidipine may be used as an adjunct to beta blockers if the patient is still hypertensive or beta blockers are contraindicated.Intrapulmonary shunting leading to hypoxia is a rare complication of clevidipine therapy and should be suspected in an otherwise hypoxic patient in whom all other diagnoses have been ruled out.