Angiographic documentation of coronary artery spasm induced by anesthesia

Many cases of coronary artery spasm during regional or general anesthesia have been reported. To our knowledge, for the first time we report a case of coronary artery spasm induced by general anesthesia that was documented by immediate angiography and treated with intracoronary nitroglycerine. A 68-year-old female was to undergo elective cholecystectomy. General anesthesia was induced by propofol 140 mg, fentanyl 50 microg, and vecuronium bromide 7 mg. Immediately after intubation sudden hypotension (60/40 mmHg) and marked ST-segment elevation on the monitor were noticed. A 12-lead electrocardiogram demonstrated marked ST-segment elevations in inferior leads with reciprocal changes. An immediate diagnostic coronary angiography showed diffuse severe narrowing of the right coronary artery with a non-critical plaque in the midportion. After intracoronary administration of nitroglycerine 0.2 mg into the right coronary artery, there was marked diffuse vasodilatation. A diagnosis of variant angina was made and 2 days of hospital course was uneventful. The patient was discharged taking diltiazem 120 mg two times daily, aspirin 100 mg daily and isosorbidemononitrate 60 mg daily.