• Vera Saldien, Tom Schepens, Katrien Van Loock, Gaelle Vermeersch, Davina Wildemeersch, Viviane Van Hoof, Frank De Belder, Johan Bosmans, Marcel Vercauteren, and Tomas Menovsky.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
• World Neurosurg. 2018 Nov 1; 119: e71-e77.

Background And ObjectiveIntraoperative rupture of a cerebral aneurysm during neurosurgery can be a devastating event that increases perioperative morbidity and mortality. Rapid ventricular pacing (RVP) is a technique to obtain flow arrest for short periods of time during dissection or rupture of the aneurysm. The objective of this study was to evaluate the neurological and cardiac effects of repetitive periods of RVP during cerebrovascular surgery.MethodsData from patients who underwent repetitive RVP during craniotomy for cerebrovascular disorders were retrospectively analyzed from a single-center medical records database (Cegeka Medical Health Care Systems). We compared preoperative and postoperative troponin levels (cTnI) to assess cardiac ischemia. Preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results were screened for RVP-induced infarcts by evaluating diffusion restriction in the hemisphere contralateral to the operated side and the fossa posterior.ResultsA total of 37 patients were analyzed. An immediate decrease of systolic arterial blood pressure (<60 mm Hg) was achieved after initiation of RVP. Postoperative MRI did not reveal areas of diffusion restriction. RVP tended to be a predictor of postoperative cTnI increase. Preoperative and postoperative cTnI levels were higher in patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage compared to patients without one. After 24 hours cTnI jevels normalized to preoperative values.ConclusionsSystolic arterial blood pressure decreased after RVP but normalized immediately when pacing stopped. MRI of the brain did not show RVP-related ischemia and the limited cTnI level increase normalized to preoperative values. Therefore, RVP during short periods of time seems to be a safe blood pressure-lowering technique for the brain and heart.Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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