A cardiovascular collapse during cemented total hip replacement in a diabetic patient.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is often associated with cardiovascular abnormalities. Several case reports have suggested that the diabetic patient undergoing surgery may have a higher incidence of undesirable cardiovascular events than the general population1 • Catastrophic cardiovascular collapse during cemented total hip replacement has been reported", This has been attributed to vasodilating effects of the absorbed volatile monomer, to emboli forced into the circulation by the force of insertion of the prothesis", In this report an intraoperative cardiac arrest recently experienced during the cemented total hip replacement in a patient with severe diabetes mellitus. A combined negative inotropic effect of bone cement and diabetic state has been proposed to be a major cause of sudden cardiac arrest shortly after placement of bune cement.