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Brugada electrocardiographic pattern in a postoperative patient
Alina Dulu1, Stephen M Pastores, Eileen McAleer
1Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Critical Care Medicine
|July 9, 2005
Summary
Brugada electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern developed postoperatively in a patient after head and neck surgery. This suggests increased parasympathetic tone from vagal nerve manipulation may induce Brugada ECG changes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Surgical Oncology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- The Brugada electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death.
- Postoperative development of cardiac abnormalities requires careful consideration of underlying causes.
Observation:
- A 51-year-old male developed a Brugada ECG pattern immediately after head and neck cancer surgery.
- The patient remained asymptomatic with normal cardiac enzymes and echocardiogram, precluding electrophysiologic study.
Findings:
- The Brugada ECG pattern was likely induced by increased parasympathetic tone due to vagal nerve manipulation during deep neck dissection.
- Postoperative fever may have also contributed to the ECG abnormalities.
Implications:
- The Brugada ECG pattern should be considered in patients undergoing deep neck dissection who exhibit characteristic ECG changes postoperatively.
- This finding highlights the importance of recognizing iatrogenic causes of ECG abnormalities in the perioperative setting.