Sinus bradycardia following saline irrigation of the pleural cavity during a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A case report.
10.4097/kjae.2009.57.2.233
- Author:
Sang Jin PARK
1
;
Dong Won LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea. apsj0718@naver.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Bradycardia;
Saline irrigation;
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery
- MeSH:
Adult;
Bradycardia;
Cold Temperature;
Dietary Sucrose;
Heart Rate;
Hemostasis;
Humans;
Lipoma;
Pleural Cavity;
Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted
- From:Korean Journal of Anesthesiology
2009;57(2):233-236
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
A 43-year-old man underwent lipoma excision operation with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Upon completion of the surgery, 20degrees C cold saline irrigation was performed to clean the surgical field. During this procedure, a sudden sinus bradycardia (33 beats/min) occurred. After interruption of the irrigation, the normal sinus rhythm returned spontaneously. With the suspicion that the cold saline could have induced the bradycardia, 40degrees C warm saline irrigation was performed; however, the repeat sinus bradycardia occurred again. The saline irrigation was stopped and the heart rate returned to normal. We conclude that although warm saline irrigation is a common practice after surgical procedures to ensure hemostasis and to clean the surgical field, it may induce profound sinus bradycardia.