Anal-cardiac reflex leading to coronary spasm and cardiac arrest during abdominoperineal excision of the rectum (MILES): case report and review of the literature

Abstract Background Coronary artery spasm (CAS) has been frequently documented during regional or general anesthesia. However, severe cardiac arrest induced by CAS as a result of anal-cardiac and vasovagal reflexes is relatively uncommon. Case presentation This report describes a patient with a hist...

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Main Authors: Yimei Lin, Jingyi Wu, Junmei Wu, Juanlan Liu, Chao Liang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-025-03387-w
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author Yimei Lin
Jingyi Wu
Junmei Wu
Juanlan Liu
Chao Liang
author_facet Yimei Lin
Jingyi Wu
Junmei Wu
Juanlan Liu
Chao Liang
author_sort Yimei Lin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Coronary artery spasm (CAS) has been frequently documented during regional or general anesthesia. However, severe cardiac arrest induced by CAS as a result of anal-cardiac and vasovagal reflexes is relatively uncommon. Case presentation This report describes a patient with a history of CAS and percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) who experienced coronary artery spasm and subsequent cardiac arrest during anal anastomosis in a transabdominal perineal radical resection of rectal cancer (MILES procedure). Conclusion This case study offers significant insights into the pathophysiology of cardiac arrest induced by surgical intervention in the anal region, which is densely innervated by the vagus nerve at the terminal portion of the rectum. This phenomenon may be associated with the anal cardiac reflex and vagus nerve reflexes. It is imperative to recognize the potential for catastrophic outcomes due to vagus nerve excitation during rectal end surgery, particularly in patients with a history of acute CAS.
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issn 1749-8090
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery
spelling doaj-art-4e284ed0f9f14b94a8b5ac4e2f0f88642025-08-20T02:17:52ZengBMCJournal of Cardiothoracic Surgery1749-80902025-03-012011710.1186/s13019-025-03387-wAnal-cardiac reflex leading to coronary spasm and cardiac arrest during abdominoperineal excision of the rectum (MILES): case report and review of the literatureYimei Lin0Jingyi Wu1Junmei Wu2Juanlan Liu3Chao Liang4Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan UniversityAbstract Background Coronary artery spasm (CAS) has been frequently documented during regional or general anesthesia. However, severe cardiac arrest induced by CAS as a result of anal-cardiac and vasovagal reflexes is relatively uncommon. Case presentation This report describes a patient with a history of CAS and percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) who experienced coronary artery spasm and subsequent cardiac arrest during anal anastomosis in a transabdominal perineal radical resection of rectal cancer (MILES procedure). Conclusion This case study offers significant insights into the pathophysiology of cardiac arrest induced by surgical intervention in the anal region, which is densely innervated by the vagus nerve at the terminal portion of the rectum. This phenomenon may be associated with the anal cardiac reflex and vagus nerve reflexes. It is imperative to recognize the potential for catastrophic outcomes due to vagus nerve excitation during rectal end surgery, particularly in patients with a history of acute CAS.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-025-03387-wMILES surgeryAnal-cardiac reflexCardiac arrestCoronary artery spasm
spellingShingle Yimei Lin
Jingyi Wu
Junmei Wu
Juanlan Liu
Chao Liang
Anal-cardiac reflex leading to coronary spasm and cardiac arrest during abdominoperineal excision of the rectum (MILES): case report and review of the literature
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery
MILES surgery
Anal-cardiac reflex
Cardiac arrest
Coronary artery spasm
title Anal-cardiac reflex leading to coronary spasm and cardiac arrest during abdominoperineal excision of the rectum (MILES): case report and review of the literature
title_full Anal-cardiac reflex leading to coronary spasm and cardiac arrest during abdominoperineal excision of the rectum (MILES): case report and review of the literature
title_fullStr Anal-cardiac reflex leading to coronary spasm and cardiac arrest during abdominoperineal excision of the rectum (MILES): case report and review of the literature
title_full_unstemmed Anal-cardiac reflex leading to coronary spasm and cardiac arrest during abdominoperineal excision of the rectum (MILES): case report and review of the literature
title_short Anal-cardiac reflex leading to coronary spasm and cardiac arrest during abdominoperineal excision of the rectum (MILES): case report and review of the literature
title_sort anal cardiac reflex leading to coronary spasm and cardiac arrest during abdominoperineal excision of the rectum miles case report and review of the literature
topic MILES surgery
Anal-cardiac reflex
Cardiac arrest
Coronary artery spasm
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-025-03387-w
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