Coronary artery spasm induced under lumbar epidural anaesthesia.

A case of coronary artery spasm during lumbar epidural anaesthesia prior to surgery is presented. Three paroxysmal episodes of ST segment elevation in lead II without changes in V5 developed concomitantly when the patient complained of chest discomfort. A denervation of the cardiac sympathetic nerve seems to be the primary genesis of the attack in a patient prone to such events.