title: Cardiac arrhythmias associated with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in elderly subjects.
abstract: Continuous Holter monitoring was performed before, during and after upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in 50 unselected, consecutive elderly patients (median age 80 years: range 68-89). In contrast to other studies the patients received no atropine or opiate premedication and were monitored for a prolonged period usually 24 hours after endoscopy. Comparison of a control period when the patient was lying at rest before endoscopy with the period of endoscopy itself revealed an increased frequency of arrhythmias during endoscopy. Forty-eight per cent of patients developed a new arrhythmia or an increased frequency of existing arrhythmia during endoscopy. All arrhythmias were short and self-terminating. Evidence of cardiac disease conferred a significantly increased risk of developing an arrhythmia during endoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Lightburn Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: McAlpine
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Devine
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence