title: Asystole during posterior fossa surgery: Report of two cases.
abstract: Asystole during posterior fossa neurosurgical procedures is not uncommon. Various causes have been implicated, especially when surgical manipulation is carried out in the vicinity of the brain stem. The trigemino-cardiac reflex has been attributed as one of the causes. Here, we report two cases who suffered asystole during the resection of posterior fossa tumors. The vago-glossopharyngeal reflex and the direct stimulation of the brainstem were hypothesized as the causes of asytole. These episodes resolved spontaneously following withdrawal of the surgical stimulus emphasizing the importance of anticipation and vigilance during critical moments of tumor dissection during posterior fossa surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroanaesthesiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Keshav
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.forename: Frenny Ann
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Philip
authors.forename: Girija Prasad
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: Charu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sujatha
authors.forename: Sachidanand Jee
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bharti
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta