Sudden asystole during craniotomy: Unrecognized phenytoin toxicity

James M. Berry, Alicia Kowalski, Stephen A. Fletcher, M. Berry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The authors report a case of intraoperative sinus arrest in an otherwise healthy patient undergoing craniotomy for aneurysm clipping after mild subarachnoid hemorrhage. The sinus arrest was precipitated by a rapid infusion of 1500 mg phenytoin and was successfully treated with standard resuscitative measures. The differential diagnosis of intraoperative cardiac arrest and the mechanisms of action of phenytoin are discussed. The authors emphasize the role of phenytoin in cerebral protection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)42-45
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1999

Keywords

  • Cardiac arrest
  • Cerebral ischemia
  • Cerebral protection
  • Phenytoin
  • Toxicity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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