Successful resuscitation despite prolonged cardiac arrest in a patient with undiagnosed intracranial lesion: a case report

<p class="abstract"><span lang="EN-US">Perioperative cardiac arrests represent the most serious complication of anesthesia and surgery. It is believed that the incidence and mortality of cardiac arrest has declined because of advanced and increased surgical acuity and patients with extremes of age. We described a case of 31 year old male who had deterioration of cardiorespiratory and hemodynamic status in half an hour period after giving spinal anesthesia for hydrocoele operation. After half an hour of giving spinal anesthesia, patient developed supraventricular tachycardia followed by ventricular tachycardia progressed to cardiorespiratory arrest in a fraction of 2 to 3 minutes. He was unconscious and convulsing. Fortunately, this patient was successfully resuscitated with timely and appropriate measures in form of endotracheal intubation, cardiac defibrillation, antiarrythmic and inotropic cardiac medications and anticonvulsant drugs. Patient was shifted to ICU with ionotropic support and anticonvulsant infusion. Patient had apparently no previous cardiorespiratory or neurological complaints. Post-operative MRI report showed right cerebello-pontine angle cistern lesion suggestive of epidermoid cyst.</span></p>