Coronary artery spasm induced by trigeminal nerve stimulation and vagal reflex during intracranial operation

J Neurosurg Anesthesiol. 1999 Jul;11(3):203-5. doi: 10.1097/00008506-199907000-00009.

Abstract

This report describes a case of ventricular fibrillation resulting from coronary vasospasm during intracranial operation under general anesthesia. An autonomic response associated with the intracranial procedure caused a coronary spasm, which was worsened by alpha-agonists. Nitroglycerin effectively resolved the coronary spasm and co-complications persisted.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / adverse effects
  • Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Autonomic Nervous System / drug effects
  • Autonomic Nervous System / physiopathology
  • Bradycardia / etiology
  • Coronary Vasospasm / drug therapy
  • Coronary Vasospasm / etiology*
  • Craniotomy / adverse effects*
  • Electrocardiography / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hypotension / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitroglycerin / therapeutic use
  • Petrous Bone / surgery
  • Reflex / drug effects
  • Reflex / physiology*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / etiology
  • Trigeminal Nerve / drug effects
  • Trigeminal Nerve / physiopathology*
  • Vagus Nerve / drug effects
  • Vagus Nerve / physiopathology*
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / etiology

Substances

  • Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Nitroglycerin