Prolongation of the QT interval by enflurane, isoflurane, and halothane in humans. Anesth Analg 1991 Feb;72(2):137-44
Date
02/01/1991Pubmed ID
1898684DOI
10.1213/00000539-199102000-00001Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0025872679 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 119 CitationsAbstract
Previous investigations in laboratory animals have documented the ability of the volatile anesthetics to prolong the QT interval and the QT interval corrected for level of heart rate, QTc. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the direct electrocardiographic and hemodynamic effects of enflurane, isoflurane, and halothane in healthy, unpremedicated patients using an inhalation induction to avoid the confounding effects of other anesthetic agents. Experiments were conducted in 22 adult male patients, (ASA physical status I or II) divided into three groups given either enflurane (n = 6), isoflurane (n = 8), or halothane (n = 8) anesthesia. Twenty-four-hour preoperative, preinduction, and postinduction hemodynamic and electrocardiographic measurements were obtained. Anesthetic blood concentrations, levels of plasma electrolytes, and arterial blood gas tensions were also quantitated. Halothane administration (0.81 +/- 0.06 mM) did not significantly alter the PR interval or QRS duration but significantly increased the QT (0.38 +/- 0.01 to 0.45 +/- 0.01 s) and QTc intervals (0.39 +/- 0.01 to 0.44 +/- 0.02 s). Isoflurane anesthesia (1.04 +/- 0.11 mM) did not significantly change QRS duration or PR and QT intervals but significantly prolonged the QTc interval (0.42 +/- 0.01 to 0.47 +/- 0.14 s). Similarly, enflurane anesthesia (2.16 +/- 0.13 mM) significantly prolonged the QTc (0.40 +/- 0.01 to 0.46 +/- 0.14 s) without change in QRS duration or PR and QT intervals. Plasma electrolyte levels and arterial gas tensions remained within normal limits in all patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Author List
Schmeling WT, Warltier DC, McDonald DJ, Madsen KE, Atlee JL, Kampine JPAuthor
Karin E. Drescher MD Adjunct Associate Professor in the Anesthesiology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Anesthesia, InhalationCarbon Dioxide
Electrocardiography
Electrolytes
Enflurane
Halothane
Hemodynamics
Humans
Isoflurane
Male
Middle Aged
Oxygen