Unexpected cardiac arrest during epidural anaesthesia

Minerva Anestesiol. 1998 Jun;64(6):303-5.

Abstract

We reported the case of sudden asystole requiring close chest cardiac massage in a 56-yrs-old health man receiving epidural anaesthesia for elective transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT). The anaesthetic procedure was performed in a regional-block-room. Cardiac arrest developed few minutes after local anaesthetic injection, before the patient has been transferred to the operating room. The importance of patient monitoring during regional anaesthesia must be further on pointed out, especially when the anaesthetic procedure is performed out of the operating room (e.g. in the recovery room or in a "regional-block-room").

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anesthesia, Epidural* / adverse effects
  • Heart Arrest / etiology
  • Heart Arrest / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / complications
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / surgery