title: [Prolongation of the QT interval in the ECG following surgery of the neck (neck dissection)].
abstract: The QT interval on the ECG was determined in 40 patients undergoing major resection plus neck dissection. The readings were taken before operation, between 1 and 3 h after operation, and the 1st and the 7th day after the operation. The QT interval was prolonged significantly more often and more intensively in patients undergoing surgery on the right side (from 411 +/- 17 to 459 +/- 50 ms) than in those operated on the left side (409 +/- 14 to 431 +/- 32 ms; all values mean +/- SD). The cause of the prolongation of QT interval is thought to be either direct surgical damage to the sympathetic cardiac nerves during the operation, or a temporary disturbance of nerve function due to pressure, tension or oedema in the wound. An explanation for the observed side difference might be differing functional effects of right- and left-sided sympathetic innervation of the heart. Attention is drawn to the meaning of these findings as a predisposing factor for ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
authors: Zentrum der Anaesthesiologie und Wiederbelebung, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Behne
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Hermann
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Lischke
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lörz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000209:etiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013616:Tachycardia, Sinus / Q000209:etiology
vernacular_title: Untersuchungen zur Verlängerung der QT-Zeit im EKG nach Operationen am Hals (Neck dissection).