A Heart Stopping Case of the Bezold-Jarisch Reflex

The Bezold-Jarisch reflex is a parasympathetic reflex induced by intense mechanical stimulation of the ventricular myocytes. Exceptionally, cases have been described in patients receiving dobutamine infusion during a stress echocardiography. All were healthy middle-aged women and recovered without sequelae. A healthy 60-year-old woman suffered two 5.9-second episodes of asystole during her 20 mcg/kg/min infusion of dobutamine. Recovery was quick and without sequelae. Echocardiography and coronary angiography were both normal. In conclusion, this is the fourth documented case of a severe Bezold-Jarisch reflex causing asystole during dobutamine infusion. Diagnosis can only be made after excluding all other possible diagnoses, most importantly ischemia. This serves as a reminder of the importance of close monitoring during dobutamine infusion.