title: Herpes zoster infection and cardiac arrest.
abstract: We present a case of post herpetic neuralgia in a patient admitted with a prior herpetic infection complicated by recurrent episodes of asystole and cardiac arrest. We first tried medical therapy with the use of high doses of intravenous analgesics, opiates, carbamazepine and phenytoin. However, the high recurrence rate of the pain episodes with concomitant cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation warranted first the placement of a temporary pacing lead, and shortly after a permanent device as a rescue procedure. This case illustrates the treatment difficulties in such an uncommon and extreme situation.
authors: Cardiology Department, Université Libre de Bruxelles - FOSFOM, Clinique Saint Jean (Brussels Heart Center), 32 Boulevard du jardin botanique, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: njwansa@gmail.com.
authors: Nader
authors: N
authors: Wansa
authors: Cardiology Department, Université Libre de Bruxelles - FOSFOM, Clinique Saint Jean (Brussels Heart Center), 32 Boulevard du jardin botanique, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Shaffu
authors: Neurology Department, Saint Georges University Medical Center, Ashrafieh, 1100 Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Mounir
authors: M
authors: Khoury
authors: Cardiology Department, Clinique Saint Jean (Brussels Heart Center), 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Luc
authors: L
authors: De Roy
authors: Cardiology Department, Saint Georges University Medical Center, Ashrafieh, 1100 Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Salah
authors: S
authors: Chouairi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology*; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid
keywords: Cardiac arrest; Herpes zoster; Pain; Syncope; Vasovagal