[Prolonged asystole after spinal anesthesia in a patient with Gallavardin's syndrome]

Ann Fr Anesth Reanim. 2004 Aug;23(8):822-6. doi: 10.1016/j.annfar.2004.05.014.
[Article in French]

Abstract

A clinical case of spontaneous ventricular dysrythmia in a 47-year-old patient scheduled for ankle osteosynthesis is reported. During initial peripheral vein canulation, a spontaneous ventricular tachycardia occurred and disappeared spontaneously in about 3 min. It was decided to proceed with surgery. Thirty minutes after spinal anaesthesia, asystole occurred. Normal sinus rhythm was rapidly restored after basic life support. There was no harmful consequence for the patient. He had a history of repetitive monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (Gallavardin type). The aetiologies of asystole after spinal anaesthesia are well known and will be not discussed in the text. Although the origin of the asystole is unclear in this case, the literature on Gallavardin's syndrome is reviewed, showing that a prolonged and complex preoperative assessment is not mandatory in this syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Anesthesia, Spinal / adverse effects*
  • Ankle / surgery
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement
  • Electroencephalography / drug effects
  • Heart Arrest / etiology*
  • Heart Arrest / physiopathology
  • Hemodynamics / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Syndrome
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / complications*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / physiopathology