Transient asystole during endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for acromegaly: an example of trigeminocardiac reflex.

Cardiac arrhythmias are rare during transsphenoidal surgery and is often secondary to stimulation of the trigeminal nerve endings that supply the nasal passages and cavernous sinus walls. Authors report a patient with Acromegaly, who developed transient asystole, during the dissection of the adenoma extending into the left cavernous sinus wall. In such cases, the use of prophylactic atropine may help to avoid such a complication.