title: Cardiac arrest induced by submucosal injection of epinephrine in a patient with variant angina.
abstract: This case report describes a 35-year old male who experienced ventricular tachycardia induced by intramucosal injection of epinephrine (1:100,000). Under general anaesthesia with desflurane inhalation, 1.5% lidocaine containing 1:100,000 epinephrine was injected into the nasal mucosa for septoplasty. ST segment elevation and QRS widening occurred after 10 minutes and progressed to pulseless ventricular tachycardia. A sinus rhythm was restored after cardiopulmonary resuscitation with electrical cardioversion. The cardiac enzymes were significantly elevated after the event. Exercise-stress testing and coronary angiography were normal. However, an injection of acetylcholine into the coronary artery provoked vasospasm in the left anterior descending and circumflex arteries. This case illustrates an unusual response to low dose epinephrine with cardiac arrest induced in a patient with undiagnosed variant angina.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jin Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chon
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000788:Angina Pectoris, Variant / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D004837:Epinephrine