title: Cardiac dysrhythmia complicating total parotidectomy.
abstract: Sudden severe dysrhythmias during anaesthesia can be life- threatening for the patient. We describe a case in which ventricular dysrhythmias and severe bradycardia occurred during dissection and mobilization of the deep lobe of the parotid gland during total parotidectomy under general anaesthesia. We believe that these dysrhythmias were caused by a trigemino- vagal reflex similar to the oculocardiac reflex, but with afferent innervation from mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. The case report is presented to illustrate a possible existence and importance of reflex bradycardic responses that may occur during surgical procedures involving the parotid gland.
authors.forename: Smita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: Ameeta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahni
authors.forename: Charu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bamba
authors.lastname: Chintamani
authors.forename: Anoop Raj
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gogia
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery*; D016105:Parathyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D059230:Reflex, Trigeminocardiac