Left Frontal Lobe Tumor-Induced Intraoperative Premature Ventricular Beats

Abstract

In the absence of cardiac pathology, premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in neurosurgical patients frequently accompany subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, or raised intracranial pressure. PVCs detected during preanesthesia assessment prompts detailed cardiac evaluation. Our 57-year-old patient, a case of left frontal meningioma, with controlled hypertension, diabetes and hypothyroidism, had normal preoperative ECG and potassium. However, immediately on anesthesia induction, she developed multiple refractory to treatment PVCs but with normal blood pressure. Anesthesia, which was maintained with sevoflurane and fentanyl, was deepened to exclude light anesthesia as the cause, without useful outcome. Two lignocaine boluses (100 mg each), followed by its infusion, also proved ineffective. Her blood gases and potassium, checked twice, were normal. Throughout, her hemodynamics remained stable. As soon as tumor was removed, the PVCs disappeared not to return. Her postoperative recovery was uneventful with normal ECG.