title: Cardiac arrest associated with sulprostone use during caesarean section.
abstract: Sulprostone, a synthetic prostaglandin with potent uterotonic action, has been shown to have a low complication rate in a large series. We present a case in which a bolus intravenous injection of sulprostone 30 micrograms was administered to treat postpartum haemorrhage during caesarean section. The 38-year-old patient with no previous cardiac or smoking history developed complete heart block, ventricular fibrillation and subsequent asystole. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was successful after 45 minutes. Post resuscitation there was no myocardial infarction and she had complete neurological recovery. We postulate that the bolus of sulprostone resulted in possible coronary spasm that resulted in cardiac arrest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002585:Cesarean Section; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D006327:Heart Block / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012151:Resuscitation; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D013566:Sympathomimetics; C016767:sulprostone; D015232:Dinoprostone; D004837:Epinephrine