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A Prolonged Ventricular Standstill Episode During a Total Hip Replacement-A Case Report
Katelyn Eisendrath1, Michael Carter1, Dakota Robertson1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon, Virginia, USA.
Case Reports in Cardiology
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Ventricular standstill, a complete stop in heart ventricle contraction, is rare. This case details a 20-second surgical event in a stable patient, highlighting unusual circumstances for this cardiac phenomenon.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Anesthesiology
- Surgical Medicine
Background:
- Ventricular standstill, the cessation of ventricular contraction, is a rare and potentially fatal cardiac event.
- Few documented cases report patients remaining hemodynamically stable and asymptomatic during standstill.
- No prior instances of ventricular standstill occurring during surgical procedures have been reported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a unique case of ventricular standstill during surgery.
- To discuss the rarity of this event in a surgical context.
- To explore potential pathophysiological mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- A 63-year-old male patient underwent elective right total hip replacement.
- Intraoperative telemetry monitoring was utilized.
- The event was identified via electrocardiogram (ECG) and hemodynamic monitoring.
Main Results:
- A 20-second episode of ventricular standstill was observed during the surgery.
- The patient remained asymptomatic and hemodynamically stable throughout the event.
- Post-event recovery was uneventful, with no lasting sequelae.
Conclusions:
- This case represents a rare occurrence of prolonged ventricular standstill during surgery.
- The patient's stable hemodynamics during the event are highly unusual.
- Potential contributing factors may include vasovagal or inflammatory responses, possibly exacerbated by anesthesia in a surgical setting.