Cardiac arrest induced by the local infiltration of epinephrine during desflurane anesthesia: A case report

Chung, Jin Yong; Kim, Jung Eun; Lee, Dong Keun; Kim, Jong Hae; Seo, Kwi Chu; Song, Seok Young

Case Report

Anesthetic Pharmacology

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2011;6(1):41-44.
Published online January 31, 2011.

Cardiac arrest induced by the local infiltration of epinephrine during desflurane anesthesia: A case report

Jin Yong Chung, Jung Eun Kim, Dong Keun Lee, Jong Hae Kim, Kwi Chu Seo, Seok Young Song

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, Korea. jychung@cu.ac.kr

Abstract

Topical epinephrine is useful to reduce bleeding and to give a clear operative field during general anesthesia. However, epinephrine at clinical doses has adverse cardiovascular effects, such as transient hypertension and arrhythmia. We report a case of cardiac arrest following the local infiltration of epinephrine during desflurane anesthesia. The patient recovered without sequelae after intensive care. However, it is recommended that caution is exercised when the local infiltration of epinephrine is used during general anesthesia.

Key Words: Cardiac arrest, Desflurane, Epinephrine local infiltration