Bradycardia during cold ocular irrigation under general anaesthesia: an example of the diving reflex.
A case of bradycardia is reported which was precipitated by cold normal saline applied to the eye during general anaesthesia. The history and physiology of the diving reflex is discussed and we believe that these data suggest that this patient's bradycardia was induced by the diving reflex, and not by the oculocardiac reflex.
Arndt
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GA
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin Clinical Science Center, Madison 53792.
Stock
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MC
D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004242:Diving / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation