Korean J Anesthesiol.  2009 Dec;57(6):737-741. 10.4097/kjae.2009.57.6.737.

Effect of remifentanil on QT dispersion

• Lee W
• Kim YH
• Cho KR
• Lee SE
• Lee JH
• Lim SH
• Lee KM
• Cheong SH
• Choe YK
• Kim YJ
• Shin CM

• KMID: 2239792
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2009.57.6.737

Abstract

BACKGROUND
QT dispersion (QT(d)) is an indirect measure of the heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization and can be used as a risk factor for complex ventricular arrhythmias. We measured the effect of remifentanil on QT(d) and heart-rate corrected QT dispersion (QT(cd)). METHODS: Sixty ASA class I and II patients, who were between 20 and 60 years old, and who were scheduled for general anesthesia, were studied. After the patient entered the operating room, a 12 lead EKG recording was taken and intravenous infusion of remifentanil was started. The infusion rate was 0.1 microg/kg/min in group 1 and 0.2 microgram/kg/min in group 2. Another EKG recording was taken 10 minutes after infusion had started. RESULTS: In both groups, QT(d) following remifentanil infusion was not significantly different than control values (76.6 +/- 23.3 ms vs 81.8 +/- 34.9 ms, P = 0.459 in group 1; 70.7 ms +/- 29.7 ms vs 73.7 ms +/- 37.1 ms, P = 0.734 in group 2). Neither was QT(cd): (83.2 ms +/- 25.2 ms vs 89.6 ms +/- 36.2 ms, P = 0.371 in group 1; 81.0 ms +/- 35.2 ms vs 83.4 ms +/- 40.9 ms, P = 0.829 in group 2). CONCLUSIONS: Remifentanil infusion at a rate less than 0.2 microg/kg/min does not change QT(d) or QT(cd).

Keyword

Arrhythmia; Heart conduction system; Remifentanil

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Electrocardiography
Heart Conduction System
Humans
Infusions, Intravenous
Operating Rooms
Piperidines
Population Characteristics
Risk Factors
Piperidines