Asystole during spinal anaesthesia after change from Trendelenburg to horizontal position.
We present a case in which progressive bradycardia and sudden cardiac arrest developed in a 26-year-old healthy woman with an ovarian cyst during spinal anaesthesia, immediately after the patient was moved from the 15 degree Trendelenburg to the supine horizontal position. We postulate that a decrease in venous return was the main cause of the cardiac arrest. It should be stressed again that close monitoring during spinal anaesthesia is essential when the patient is subjected to postural changes.
Nishikawa
T
T
Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Anzai
Y
Y
Namiki
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010656:Phenylephrine; D011187:Posture
D010656:Phenylephrine