Effects of different concentrations of desflurane on electrophysiological stability of hearts in female patients

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effects of different concentrations of desflurane on the electrophysiological stability of hearts in female patients. Methods Forty female patients, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰor Ⅱ, aged 20-50 yr, weighing 45-77 kg, scheduled for elective surgery with general anesthesia, were divided into 2 groups (n=20 each) using a random number table method: 0.6 MAC group (group D1) and 1.3 MAC group (group D2). The intravenous access was opened after admission to the operating room, midazolam 0.1 mg/kg, vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg, fentanyl 3 μg/kg and etomidate 0.3 mg/kg were injected intravenously, and mechanical ventilation was performed after tracheal intubation.The concentrations of desflurane reached 0.6 and 1.3 MAC in D1 and D2 groups, respectively.Twelve-lead electrocardiograms were collected before anesthesia induction (T1), at 5 min after intubation (T2) and at 20 min after reaching the set concentration of desflurane (T3). The QT interval and Tp-e interval were measured, the QTc interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and index of cardiac electrophysiological balance were calculated, and the development of arrhythmia was also observed. Results The QT interval and QTc interval were significantly longer, and the Tp-e/QT ratio was lower at T3 than at T1, 2 in two groups (P 0.05). No arrhythmia was found in neither group. Conclusion The clinical concentration of desflurane affects the electrophysiological stability of hearts to some extent in female patients without causing arrhythmia. Key words: Anesthetics, inhalation; Femininity; Cardiac electrophysiology