[Intraoperative coronary artery spasm with cardiac arrest: cardiologic acute intervention].

Ventricular fibrillation occurred intraoperatively during a laparoscopy-assisted resection of the rectum in a 63-year-old patient. A coronary artery spasm was identified as the cause. It was possible to rectify the coronary artery spasm and restore a stable circulatory situation with an intracoronary injection of nitroglycerine. Excellent interdisciplinary cooperation combined with favourable timing and spatial conditions, made this outcome possible for the patient without neurological deficits. In addition to presenting the actual treatment procedure, possible underlying pathogenetic mechanisms will also be presented.