title: Aberrant conduction as a precursor to cardiac arrhythmias during anesthesia for oral surgery.
abstract: In 109 patients, it was determined that halothane, when used to anesthetize patients for oral surgical procedures, causes an increased risk of serious cardiac arrhythmias when compared to methoxyflurane and fentanyl/droperidol. It is postulated that this is due to halothane's ability to decrease cardiac conduction and to facilitate the development of reentry phenomena. This decreased conduction may be accentuated by vagal efferent reflexes that have the same effect. The decrease in cardiac conduction was manifested by an ECG pattern of aberrant conduction. This phenomenon was not noted with either methoxyflurane or fentanyl/droperidol.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004329:Droperidol / Q000009:adverse effects; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000009:adverse effects; D006221:Halothane / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008733:Methoxyflurane / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D008733:Methoxyflurane; D004329:Droperidol; D005283:Fentanyl; D006221:Halothane