Korean J Anesthesiol.  1999 Jul;37(1):164-167. 10.4097/kjae.1999.37.1.164.

Torsade de Pointes Caused by Cardiac Pacemaker Malfunction: A case report

• Lee JM
• Kwon OK
• Choi JH
• Cho SH
• Joo JD

• KMID: 2236858
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1999.37.1.164

Abstract

Anesthesiologists are faced with a growing number of patients in need of cardiac pacing with symptoms of increasing complexity. Because intraoperative pacemaker malfunction can lead to sudden death, it is important for the anesthesiologists to possessthe information necessary to evaluate and treat such patients. On the other hand, torsade de pointes, a particular form of life-threatening polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, is known to be elicited in patients with cardiac pacemakers in the setting of abnormally long QT intervals, decreased heart rate and severe electrolyte disturbances, notably hypokalemia. We herein report a case of intraoperative torsade de pointes that was triggered by pacemaker malfunction-induced bradycardia in a patient with a VVI-type cardiac pacemaker, whose serum potassium and magnesium level were low preoperatively. (Korean J Anesthesiol 1999; 37: 164~167)

Keyword

Complications, torsade de pointes; Heart, pacemaker

MeSH Terms

Bradycardia
Death, Sudden
Hand
Heart Rate
Humans
Hypokalemia
Magnesium
Potassium
Tachycardia, Ventricular
Torsades de Pointes*
Magnesium
Potassium