Cardiac arrest following protamine administration.
A case report of fatal cardiac arrest following protamine reversal of systemic heparinization during vascular surgery is presented. Patients who have received protamine zinc insulin, NPH insulin, and those with previous exposure to protamine sulphate or allergy to fish are more likely to have a reaction to protamine. Protamine-induced hypotension can be mediated by immunological or non-immunological mechanisms. Several alternative methods of heparin reversal which may avoid similar catastrophes are presented.
D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000276:immunology; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006494:Heparin Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011479:Protamines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures
D006494:Heparin Antagonists; D011479:Protamines