Electrocautery-induced pacemaker malfunction during surgery.
We report a case of electrocautery-induced pacemaker failure that resulted in asystole in a 15-year-old girl scheduled for cardiac surgery. Her pacemaker was converted to the asynchronous mode the night before surgery. Electromagnetic interference from the unipolar electrocautery caused a reduction in the battery voltage, which allowed the digital circuitry, but not the voltage control oscillator (VCO), to work properly. Eventually the battery current drain caused VCO "lock-out," and pacemaker and battery failure. This report demonstrates that electrocautery-induced pacemaker failure can occur, even after conversion to asynchronous mode.
Department of Anesthesiology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33612-4799.
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D000293:Adolescent; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial