Postoperative myocardial infarction in carcinoma of mandible: Report of a case

Abstract

We experienced a case of postoperative myocardial infarction in a 55-year-old female who didn't suffer any cardiovascular disease before the operation. This patient has developed a cancer of the right mandible. After radiation and chemotherapy (Pepleomycin) the patient was treated with surgery. The attack of chest pain developed 6.5 hours after operation (partial mandiblectomy, suprahyoidal neck dissection and right deltopectoral flap transplantation) under general anesthesia (GOF). The ECG tracings soon after the attack suggested myocardial infarction of the anterior-lateral wall. The patient was treated by Ca-antagonists, Nitroglycerin and Lidocaine at rest. The patient's progress toward recovery was satisfactory. 28 days after the first operation the secondary operation (separation of flap) was made in local anesthesia after premedication with atropine and morphine with success. From the series of ECG changes for 6 months, it was diagnosed to be acute reversible myocardial infarction followed by subendocardial infarction.