title: The effects of spinal anesthesia on QT interval in preeclamptic patients.
abstract: In this study, we measured the effects of spinal anesthesia on the corrected QT (QTc) interval in women with severe preeclampsia. Twenty-five preeclamptic (preeclamptic group) and 25 healthy pregnant women with normal arterial blood pressure and QTc interval (control group) were enrolled in this prospective, case-controlled study. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and QTc interval values were obtained before (baseline value) and at 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, and 120 min after initiation of spinal anesthesia. Total ephedrine dose, time elapsed until sensory block, and Apgar scores were recorded. Prior to spinal anesthesia, QTc interval values were significantly higher in the preeclamptic group (452 +/- 17.5 ms) when compared with that in controls (376 +/- 21.4 ms). Although the QTc interval shortened during spinal anesthesia when compared with baseline value in the preeclamptic group (P < 0.05), it showed no significant change in the control group. In conclusion, the QTc interval may be prolonged in severe preeclamptic patients who have hypertension and hypocalcemia. Spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery may normalize that prolonged QTc interval due to sympathetic blockade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey. drseldasen@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Selda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Galip
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozmert
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.forename: Eray
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caliskan
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Onbasili
authors.forename: Duran
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies