Local infiltration (lidocain and epinephrine) has been used to control bleeding in local or general
anesthesia in plastic surgery field. However epinephrine also has various side effects, such as
tarchycardia, arrhythmia, pulmonary edema, cardiac arrest, etc. We experienced two cases of ventricular
tachycardia after local infiltration in rhinoplasty. The first case was a 21 year-old female and the
second case was a 40 year-old male. None of them had previous history of cardiac disease. We
performed cardiac massage and cardioversion several times immediately after ECG changed to
Ventricular tachycardia in operation room until ECG turned to normal sinus rhythm. Patients were
transferred to intensive care unit. The condition of patients improved rapidly in a few days and additional
complications were not detected except pulmonary edema following cardiac massage. Conclusion:
We experienced ventricular tachycardia unexpectedly after local infiltration during the surgical
procedure. We report these cases with literature. (Archives of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 17: 137, 2011)