The author have experienced two cases of cardiac arrest during general anesthesia for operation of total hysterectomy and cholecystectomy in the reserpinized patient.
There are many influening factors for cardiac depression during anesthesia, overdose of general anesthetics, raised airway pressure, hemorrhage, surgical maneuvers, change in position or moving the patient, abnormalities of the circulatory ststem, septic shock, incompatible transfusion, and anaphylactic reaction.
For the cases presented, I believe that prior antihypertensive agent was the causative factor.
There are many preventive measures and treatment for cardiac depression in antihypertensive cured patient.
However in such cases, I conclude that careful history taking and prompt recognition and attention are the most important precaution.
|