Sensitive carotid sinus

In 1968, a head-injured male, age 20, suffered four cardiac arrests in rapid succession after undergoing the performance of a cerebral arteriogram by the injection of radiopaque material into the common carotid artery in the neck. Several attempts at injection were required before a clear flow was obtained. It was assumed that these several needle stabs in the vicinity of the carotid sinus caused damage to this critical area, resulting in the cardiac arrests. After a precarious few hours, he made a successful recovery and was known to be alive and working 28 years later.