Cardiac arrest under anaesthesia in a child with previously undiagnosed Jervell and Lange‐Nielsen syndrome

Abstract

A 7‐year‐old Sikh boy with a history of syncopal attacks and congenital deafness was admitted for elective adenoidectomy and examination of his ears under general anaesthesia. Immediately after induction of anaesthesia an Ecg demonstrated T wave inversion in the CM 5 lead. The child subsequently developed multifocal ventricular extrasystoles and later, ventricular fibrillation. Deftbrillation was achieved using two 50 J DC shocks. A 12‐lead ECG performed later demonstrated a prolonged Q‐Tc interval (0.52s). The child was diagnosed as having the Jervell and Lange‐Nielsen syndrome. Copyright © 1993, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved