Sudden Cardiac Arrest in a Low-Risk Patient During Elective Spinal Surgery

Patients with intermittent claudication secondary to spinal problem may have asymptomatic cardiac disease. We experienced a case of sudden cardiac arrest in a low-risk male patient during elective spinal surgery which was performed in accordance with the current guidelines. A 54-year-old male, who did not have active cardiac conditions or clinical risk factors for perioperative cardiovascular events, was scheduled to have a planned surgery for spinal stenosis without preoperative testing for cardiovascular events according to the current guidelines. But, he developed sudden cardiac arrest during elective spinal surgery. Emergent coronary angiogram showed significant stenosis in the distal left main coronary artery and proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. We successfully deployed 2 bare metal stents with intravascular ultrasound guidance. His mental state recovered and he was extubated 4 hours later. On day 8 in the hospital, he was transferred to the local hospital for care of his spinal problem.