Objective: To examine the effects of halothane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane
on Q-Tc interval (corrected for heart rate) during inhalation induction of
anesthesia.
Design: Prospective, double-blind, randomized study.
Setting: Departments of Cardiology and Anesthesiology in a university hospi
tal.
Participants: Patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.
Interventions: A total of 65 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical
status I-II patients, aged 16 to 50 years, undergoing general anesthesia,
were randomly allocated to receive halothane, isoflurane, or sevoflurane.
Measurements and Main Results: The time to reach the predetermined end-tida
l concentrations of 3 minimum alveolar concentration was 6 to 10 minutes. W
hen compared with preinduction values, heart rate decreased after halothane
(p < 0.01) and sevoflurane (p < 0.05) administration; in contrast, heart r
ate increased after induction of anesthesia with isoflurane (p < 0.05). The
mean QRS intervals were not significantly changed after halothane, isoflur
ane, or sevoflurane. The Q-Tc interval was increased with isoflurane compar
ed with baseline (465 +/- 23 <nu> 441 +/- 18 msec, p < 0.01), not changed w
ith sevoflurane (441 +/- 17 <nu> 434 +/- 19 ms, p > 0.05), and shortened wi
th halothane (426 +/- 23 nu 445 +/- 21 msec, p < 0.01).
Conclusions: Sevoflurane or halothane may be preferred to isoflurane patien
ts with conditions that are known to induce a prolonged Q-Tc interval. The
effects of Q-Tc interval changes resulting from different anesthetic agents
on morbidity and the incidence of arrhythmias during anesthesia warrant fu
rther investigation. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.