title: Needle phobia and malignant vasovagal syndrome.
abstract: A case is reported in which suspicion of malignant vasovagal syndrome was aroused by a history of faints and needle phobia. The vasovagal response was successfully avoided using a gaseous induction of anaesthesia with sevoflurane. Intravenous access was achieved under general anaesthesia. The diagnosis of malignant vasovagal syndrome was confirmed postoperatively using a head-up tilt table test. An outline of the pathophysiology of the syndrome gives some indication for suitable anaesthetic management strategies in similar cases.
authors.affiliation: Imperial School of Anaesthesia, Hemel Hempstead General Hospital, Herts, UK.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yanny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019462:Syncope, Vasovagal / Q000175:diagnosis*