[The incidence of critical arrhythmia related to epinephrine under halogenated inhalational anesthesia--report of the Subcommittee on Drugs, Committee on Patient Safety and Risk Management, and Committee on Administrative Affairs Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists].

The incidences of intra-operative critical arrhythmia related to epinephrine under halogenated inhalational anesthesia were analysed according to questionnaire to 1108 JSA (Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists) Certified Training Hospital. The survey details included prospective (from July 16th, 2008 to Aug 15th, 2008) and retrospective (from Jan 1st, 2007 to Dec 31th, 2007) incidences of critical arrhythmia due to epinephrine under halogenated inhalational anesthesia. Among the 1108 institutions, effective responses were obtained from 583 institutions. A total of 1.2 case per 100,000 cases of critical arrhythmia were recorded in the retrospective study, and no case was recorded in the prospective study. The use of epinephrine under halogenated inhalational anesthesia was safe, but careful use is recommended.