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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Transient asystole during endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for acromegaly: an example of trigeminocardiac reflex
Ahmed H Abou-Zeid1, Julian R E Davis, Tara Kearney
1Department of Neurosurgery, Greater Manchester Neuroscience Centre, Hope Hospital, Salford, Greater Manchester, M6 8HD, UK.
Abstract:
Cardiac arrhythmias are rare during transsphenoidal surgery and is often secondary to stimulation of the trigeminal nerve endings that supply the nasal passages and cavernous sinus walls. Authors report a patient with Acromegaly, who developed transient asystole, during the dissection of the adenoma extending into the left cavernous sinus wall. In such cases, the use of prophylactic atropine may help to avoid such a complication.

