Cardiac dysrhythmias during anaesthesia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of cardiac dysrhythmias during anaesthesia and surgery.


METHODS
A prospective study on 500 patients undergoing routine and emergency surgery at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital.


METHODS
Sri Jayewardanepura General Hospital.


METHODS
Factors that may influence the incidence of dysrhythmia such as age, pre-existing heart disease, hypertension and anaesthetic technique were noted. Cardiac monitoring was commenced on each patient before the induction of anaesthesia and continued up to the recovery period. Any dysrhythmia that occurred was noted and a tracing obtained.


RESULTS
42 patients developed dysrhythmia of whom 21 were nodal rhythms. These occurred during maintenance of anaesthesia and needed no treatment. Fourteen patients developed ventricular ectopics commonly triggered by intubation. Only one patient needed treatment with lignocaine. Sinus bradycardia occurred in 6 patients who were treated with intravenous atropine.


CONCLUSIONS
Most dysrhythmias seen during anaesthesia do not require treatment with specific antiarrhythmic drugs. Correcting the cause is often all that is necessary.
Amarasekera
S
S
Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, Kotte, Sri Lanka.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology