Severe bradycardia due to Bezold-Jarisch reflex occurred during arousal from dexmedetomidine under spinal and epidural anesthesia: Case report

Abstract

 Severe bradycardia and hypotension during arousal from sedation with dexmedetomidine in a patient with combined spinal and epidural anesthesia is rare. We present a case of a 60-year-old woman who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) under combined spinal and epidural anesthesia (CSEA). Severe bradycardia (10 bpm) and hypotension were developed at arousal from sedation with dexmedetomidine prior to the end of the surgery. At that time, she complained of shoulder pain. Cardiac rhythm was restored by the administration of atropine. She was not under high spinal anesthesia. This severe bradycardia was mainly attributed to Bezold-Jarisch reflex (BJR) with decreased preload due to the low concentration of dexmedetomidine and increased inotropic state because of severe pain. BJR may develop during arousal from sedation with dexmedetomidine under combined spinal and epidural anesthesia.