Cardiac arrhythmias in familial amyloid polyneuropathy during anaesthesia

There is an increased risk of anaesthetic complications in patients with myocardial disorders. The present paper concerns seven patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy, who developed severe bradycardia or heart block during anaesthesia. Amyloid infiltration of the cardiac conducting tissues probably increases their susceptibility to anaesthetic agents. Dysfunction of autonomic nerves may also diminish cardiac impulse formation and conduction. In addition, the possibility of contributing succinylcholine-induced hyperkalaemia cannot be excluded. There was a prompt response to infusion of isoproterenol in all patients so treated, but the insertion of a temporary pacemaker prior to anaesthesia should, nevertheless, be seriously considered in this group of patients.