[Droperidol causes multifocal ventricular dysrhythmias]

We report a case of ventricular chaotic arrhythmia after droperidol administration. A 49-year-old woman with chronic renal failure receiving hemodialysis, was scheduled for total hysterectomy under general anesthesia. General anesthesia was induced with thiopental 200 mg, fentanyl 0.1 mg and vecuronium 5 mg for endotracheal intubation. Anesthesia was maintained with 1% isoflurane and 60% nitrous oxide in oxygen. Droperidol 10 mg was injected for neuroleptanalgesia. After two minutes, ventricular chaotic arrhythmia occurred. Lidocaine 80 mg was injected. General anesthesia was stopped. After two minutes, arrhythmia disappeared. Several reports suggest that patients with preexisting conduction defects or prolonged QTc interval may be at risk to develop ventricular arrhythmias after droperidol administration. Administration of droperidol may have exaggerated prolongation of QTc interval.