Severe bradycardia and transient asystole during epidural anesthesia: A case report.
10.4097/kjae.2008.55.6.752
- Author:
Soon Eun PARK
1
;
Dae Young KIM
;
Hee Won SON
;
Daewoo KIM
;
Chul Ho SHIN
Author Information
1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea. kdyangel@naver.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
asystole;
bradycardia;
epidural anesthesia;
vagal activation
- MeSH:
Aged;
Anesthesia, Epidural;
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee;
Atropine;
Bradycardia;
Ephedrine;
Heart Arrest;
Heart Rate;
Humans;
Male
- From:Korean Journal of Anesthesiology
2008;55(6):752-755
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The severe bradycardia and asystole are uncommon complications of epidural anesthesia but can be life threatening if not managed properly. A 73-year-old, ASA class 3, male patient was admitted for a total knee replacement under epidural anesthesia. Approximately 10 minutes after epidural anesthesia, the heart rate decreased significantly to 20 beats/min with asystole. The heart rate returned to 80 beats/min after administering atropine, ephedrine, and external cardiac compression. Severe bradycardia and asystole may be induced by vagal activation as a result of the low venous return and sympathetic blockade.
