Supraventricular tachycardia complicating the use of prostaglandin vaginal gel for induction of labour.
We present a case of a 31-year-old female patient who developed a supraventricular tachycardia and haemodynamic instability secondary to the use of vaginal prostaglandin E(2)gel for induction of labour. This complication occurred despite the patient's young age, absence of pre-existing ischaemia or coronary artery spasm, and the use of vaginal, rather than intravenous or intramyometrial prostaglandin. Physicians should be aware that serious cardiovascular complications can occur with vaginal prostaglandin E(2)therapy even in the absence of pre-existing risk factors.
Department of Anaesthesia, Coombe Women's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
J M
JM
Hale
F
F
O'Higgins
M
M
Carey