Sudden asystole during surgery in the cerebellopontine angle.

ABSTRACT

We report a case of a 40-year-old lady undergoing surgery for a tumor in the cerebellopontine angle. Intraoperatively, patient had a sudden asystole without prior warning sign of bradycardia. It could have been the severe form of trigeminocardiac reflex. The cardiac rhythm returned spontaneously once the surgical manipulation stopped. The remainder of the operation was uneventful and no complication occurred afterwards. The possible mechanism of the event is discussed.