Preanesthetic evaluation of a patient with pathologic Q waves following subarachnoid hemorrhage

This article describes a patient who developed pathologic Q waves during the course of hospitalization for subarachnoid hemorrhage. A complete cardiac evaluation, including serial 12-lead ECGs, continuous limb lead monitoring, cardiac isoenzyme determinations, and myocardial nuclear scanning performed at the time of Q-wave development showed no evidence of myocardial damage. The patient underwent general anesthesia for surgical treatment of a cerebral artery aneurysm, which was performed successfully without cardiac complications.