[Cardiac arrest and epidural anesthesia].

A man 55 years old reached of chronic bronchopneumopathy was underwent a subumbilical surgery under an epidural anesthesia. The puncture has been realized at the level of the space L3-L4, with the location of an epidural catheter after negative aspiration test. The local anesthetic with lidocaine 2% (12 ml) Ten minutes later, the patient presented cardiac arrest that evaluated favourably under the cardiocirculatory intensive care. Blood and LCR analysis exclude the eventuality of a toxic accident, an anaphylaxia or spinal anesthesia.