A case of cardiac arrest during operation for lung cancer with spastic angina

Abstract

The patient was a sixty-year-old man with lung cancer who underwent extended lymphadenectomy and lobectomy through a median sternotomy. The operation proceeded uneventfully. When lymphadenectomy along the left main bronchus was being performed, he suddenly developed bradycardia and hypotension. Soon cardiac arrest occurred. Fortunately he was resuscitated about 5 minutes after cardiac massage was started. Post-operatively, according to coronary angiography significant coronary artery stenosis was not found. However coronary artery showed severe stenosis after ergonovine injection. We suspect spastic angina to have been the primary cause of cardiac arrest.