Ventricular fibrillation caused by electrocautery for pericardium hemostasis during thoracotomy

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a serious perioperative cardiac event. Electrocautery devices are widely used in modern surgical procedures. Although these devices are safe and effective if used appropriately, there are also potential risks to the patients. This report presented a rare case of electrocautery-induced VF in a 52-year-old patient undergoing elective thoracotomy. The patient had no other underlying systemic diseases and no significant findings on physical examination. Upon entering the operating room, the monitors including ECG, pulse oximeter, and invasive arterial blood pressure monitor were applied.

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