Recurrent Occurrence of Idiopathic Ventricular Tachycardia after Extubation Undergoing Bile Duct Resection, Roux-en-Y Hepaticojejunostomy in Young Patient

Abstract

Arrhythmias occurring during surgery are mostly benign and improve without special treatment, but sometimes life threatening and poor vital signs may require immediate antiarrhythmic or electrotherapy. In some cases, permanent arrhythmias may require continued treatment after surgery. A cardiac event occurred to a 28-year-old man who underwent Bile duct resection/Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy due to cholelithiasis with cholecystitis and choledocholithiasis. He diagnosed mental retardation level 2. Pre-operation laboratory test is normal except liver function test (AST 64, ALT 141). Electrocardiography shows 57 bpm heart rate, sinus rhythm, first degree AV block and long corrected QT interval that was checked 462ms and echocardiography shows LVEF 67%, normal echocardiogram. When we prepared extubation after finishing operation, Sugammadex 200mg was injected. Suddenly, patient’s oxygen saturation was low at 85%. We started manual ventilation for oxygenation and saturation was increased at 100%. When we extubated endotracheal tube, his ECG changed normal sinus rhythm to idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (VT). Firstly we considered that is paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and infused adenosine 6mg twice and 12mg once. But arrhythmia was continuous and vital sign changed unstable. We performed reintubation and defibrillated at 200J. After defibrillation, arrhythmia converted sinus rhythm. We transferred the patient to the ICU and evaluated further to see if the patient had heart problems. During admission in ICU, attending surgeon tried to extubate endotracheal tube 2 more times. But, Idiopathic VT occurred whenever try to extubate. Finally, in the fourth attempt, extubation without occurrence of VT succeeded with continuous intravenous infusion of esmolol and dexmedetomidine. Keywords: Arrhythmia, Extubation, Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia