title: Cardiac arrest complicating neostigmine use for bowel opening in a critically ill patient.
abstract: Absence of bowel opening is common among critically ill patients. Neostigmine can be used to achieve stool passage after other treatments have been ineffective. Here, we report a case of cardiac arrest complicating neostigmine use in a 16-year-old woman with cerebral palsy who was being treated in the intensive care unit after orthopaedic surgery. Bradycardia is a recognised complication of neostigmine administration; however, cardiac arrest has not been reported previously.
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Wellington Regional Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand. lesleymaher@gmail.com
authors: Lesley
authors: L
authors: Maher
authors: Paul J
authors: PJ
authors: Young
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003112:Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D009388:Neostigmine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D009388:Neostigmine