Intraoperative Cardiac Arrest During Liposuction: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND

With the popularity of liposuction surgery, more awareness should be obtained regarding complications. Liposuction has been thought of as a safe procedure with a very low incidence of major complications. However, life-threatening risks of liposuction have rarely been reported.

METHODS

We present a case of a 36-year-old woman who developed cardiac arrest during a liposuction procedure, and we present a literature review.

RESULTS

She was previously healthy and had no risk factors for pulmonary embolism. The diagnosis was made based on clinical presentation and the presence of an electrolyte disorder and a positive sign on computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA). Mild hypothermia treatment, symptomatic treatment, and supportive therapy were applied. As the respiratory and circulation were smooth, she was discharged to a rehabilitation hospital. Seven months after discharge, the patient was still in a coma with eye opening.

CONCLUSIONS

Spinal anesthesia, pulmonary embolism, and hyperkalemia are the most probable contributors to the cardiac arrest observed during the liposuction procedure in this specific case. There is a heightened imperative to vigilantly monitor for critical incidents during these operations and to meticulously identify associated risk factors during liposuction.