The Korean Journal of Critical Care Medicine  2011;26(4):276-280

doi:10.4266/kjccm.2011.26.4.276

Ventricular Fibrillation Soon after Endobronchial Epinephrine Application in a Young Man: A Case Report.

Young Min SHIN 1 ; Jong Hyung KIM ; Hyung Wook KIM ; Bo Sik CHOI ; Jin Gyu JEONG ; Jung Won HWANG ; Kwang Won SEO ; Jong Joon AHN ; Seung Won RA

Affiliations

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Keywords

bronchoscopy; epinephrine; ventricular fibrillation

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest rarely occur after local application of epinephrine. Local and superficial application of epinephrine is a common hemostatic method during bronchoscopy, especially after biopsies. Although high plasma levels following endobronchial application of epinephrine have been observed in previous animal studies, there is no report of ventricular fibrillation after a usual dose of endobronchial application of epinephrine during bronchoscopy. We present a case of endobronchial epinephrine-induced ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest in a 31-year-old man with no previous history of cardiac disease.