Korean J Anesthesiol.  2004 Dec;47(6):887-889. 10.4097/kjae.2004.47.6.887.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Immediately after Tourniquet Release during Epidural Anesthesia: A case report

• Jeon CY
• Lee C
• Kim TY
• Song YK

• KMID: 2032608
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2004.47.6.887

Abstract

Sudden cardiac arrest during epidural anesthesia is a rare but catastrophic complication. It was recently reported that occurs in one per 10,000 epidural anesthesia cases. We report one case of cardiac arrest in a healthy 45-year-old male patient undergoing relatively minor surgery. His preoperative blood pressure was 110-130/70-80 mmHg, heart rate 75-80 beats per minute, and oxygen saturation 98%. Immediately after tourniquet release, cardiac arrest was developed without warning signs. The patient was resuscitated by prompt precordial thump pacing, a fluid bolus, intravenous injection of atropine and ephedrine, and ventilated with oxygen. The procedure was completed and the patient recovered uneventfully.

Keyword

cardiac arrest; epidural anesthesia; tourniquet

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, Epidural*
Atropine
Blood Pressure
Death, Sudden, Cardiac*
Ephedrine
Heart Arrest
Heart Rate
Humans
Injections, Intravenous
Male
Middle Aged
Oxygen
Surgical Procedures, Minor
Tourniquets*
Atropine
Ephedrine
Oxygen