Torsade de Pointes Caused by Cardiac Pacemaker Malfunction: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Anesthesiologists are faced with a growing number of patients in need of cardiac pacing with symptoms of increasing complexity. Because intraoperative pacemaker malfunction can lead to sudden death, it is important for the anesthesiologists to possessthe information necessary to evaluate and treat such patients. On the other hand, torsade de pointes, a particular form of life-threatening polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, is known to be elicited in patients with cardiac pacemakers in the setting of abnormally long QT intervals, decreased heart rate and severe electrolyte disturbances, notably hypokalemia. We herein report a case of intraoperative torsade de pointes that was triggered by pacemaker malfunction-induced bradycardia in a patient with a VVI-type cardiac pacemaker, whose serum potassium and magnesium level were low preoperatively. (Korean J Anesthesiol 1999; 37: 164~167)

Desaturation of Pulse Oximetry by Intraoperative Using of Subcutaneous Blue Dye: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive, reusable device that is being used routinely in anesthesia procedure for monitoring oxygen saturation. This is a very beneficial device that can quickly detect of hypoxia, the most common cause of anesthesia-related death. However, in clinical uses, false desaturation readings are frequently found to be caused by various factors. Such as by the use of intraoperative blue dye, which can falsely decrease oxygen saturation as determined by pulse oximetry. We therefore report our findings concerning prolonged decreased pulse oximetry readings due to the intraoperative use of blue dye subcutaneously.