Inappropriate Defibrillator Shocks During Cervical Medial Branch Radiofrequency Ablation: A Case Report. Issue 11 (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goel, Vasudha; Shankar, Hariharan; Mulpuru, Siva K.; Ramakrishna, Harish
• Is Part Of: A & A practice. Volume 14:Issue 11(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Analgesia -- Periodicals; Analgesia -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Anesthesiology -- Periodicals; Anesthesiology -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 617.9605
• DOI: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000001286
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2575-3126

Abstract

Abstract : A 52-year-old woman with a history of cervical spondylosis, nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, and complete heart block with implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (Inogen XR, Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) underwent bilateral fluoroscopy-guided radiofrequency ablation of the medial branch nerves at C4, C5, and C6 levels at an ambulatory surgery center. After completion of the seemingly routine procedure, several alerts, including 1 inappropriate shock, were received via Boston Scientific's remote monitoring system. Tracings also showed that pacing inhibition occurred. When performing radiofrequency ablation in patients with a cardiac implantable electronic device, it is imperative to follow published best practice recommendations to minimize the risk of adverse events.