Ventricular bigeminy during phenylephrine infusion used to maintain normotension during caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.
A 31-year-old primiparous, healthy woman presented for emergency caesarean section. Following the siting of a spinal anaesthetic, seconds after starting a phenylephrine infusion, she developed ventricular bigeminy. She reverted to sinus rhythm spontaneously when the phenylephrine infusion was stopped at delivery. The possible proarrhythmic and antiarrhythmic effects of phenylephrine are discussed. We suggest that this was most probably a stretch-induced ventricular arrhythmia due to increased ventricular afterload.
Lai
F M
FM
Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK.
Jenkins
J G
JG
D000328:Adult; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D010656:Phenylephrine