[A case of convulsion induced by flumazenil]

A 52-year-old female patient who was medicated chronically with sodium valproate, an anticonvulsant drug, underwent spino-peritoneal shunt operation. Firstly, spinal drain was placed under local anesthesia and with intravenous diazepam, which was antagonized by flumazenil, a specific benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, without adverse effect. Secondly, peritoneal drain was placed and shunt operation was completed under general anesthesia. After the operation flumazenil was administered again in order to accelerate anesthesia recovery. Just after the second flumazenil administration she developed generalised convulsion and coma. Convulsion disappeared immediately and full consciousness was restored several hours after the attack. We have discussed the possible mechanism of the flumazenil-induced convulsion.