Torsade de pointes ventricular tachycardia during, but not necessarily caused by, sevoflurane anesthesia.
1998
M D Daley, and
P H Norman
UI
MeSH Term
Description
Entries
D008738
Methyl Ethers
A group of compounds that contain the general formula R-OCH3.
Ethers, Methyl
D006801
Humans
Members of the species Homo sapiens.
Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000077149
Sevoflurane
A non-explosive inhalation anesthetic used in the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. It does not cause respiratory irritation and may also prevent PLATELET AGGREGATION.
A malignant form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that is characterized by HEART RATE between 200 and 250 beats per minute, and QRS complexes with changing amplitude and twisting of the points. The term also describes the syndrome of tachycardia with prolonged ventricular repolarization, long QT intervals exceeding 500 milliseconds or BRADYCARDIA. Torsades de pointes may be self-limited or may progress to VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION.
Gases or volatile liquids that vary in the rate at which they induce anesthesia; potency; the degree of circulation, respiratory, or neuromuscular depression they produce; and analgesic effects. Inhalation anesthetics have advantages over intravenous agents in that the depth of anesthesia can be changed rapidly by altering the inhaled concentration. Because of their rapid elimination, any postoperative respiratory depression is of relatively short duration. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p173)