Cardiac arrest due to coronary spasms in a patient in a lateral decubitus position and contralateral thoracotomy state during Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy: A case report

ABSTRACT

A coronary artery spasm (CAS) during noncardiac surgery is rare, but it can lead to catastrophic consequences. Furthermore, cardiac arrest caused by CAS, while a patient is in a lateral decubitus position and under contralateral thoracotomy conditions, represents a major challenge to both the anesthesiologist and the surgeon. We present a case of cardiac arrest due to CAS in a 69-year-old man undergoing Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy surgery for esophageal cancer in the left lateral decubitus position and the right thoracotomy state. The patient was successfully resuscitated with conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation after repositioning him to a supine position.