Mohsen Sahebanmaleki - Gonabad University of Medical Science
Aval Pirzadeh
Mahdi Baghciahi - Gonabad University of Medical Science
Mahdi Basirimoghadam - Iran University of Medical Sciences
Reza Ghasemi - Torbat-e Heydarieh University of Medical Sciences
Maryam Moavensaiedi - Gonabad University of Medical Science

Abstract: Background and Aim: A prolonged QT interval is one of the causes of sudden death and the incidence of dangerous arrhythmias. It is needed to study more the increasing frequency of spinal anesthesia and unknown causes of some of its complications, such as sudden and unpredictable death. This study aimed at examining the QTc interval changes in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for elective surgery. Materials and Methods: This is an analytical study conducted in 2018. This study examines QTc interval changes before, during and after the spinal anesthesia. A convenience sampling method was used to select a total of 177 patients aged 20-60 years undergoing spinal anesthesia for elective surgery and enrolled in the study after obtaining their informed consent. The electrocardiogram (ECG) was taken three times before and 10 and 150 minutes after spinal anesthesia. Data was analyzed using SPSS ver. 14.5. P-value<0.05 was considered as the significance level. Findings: The mean intraoperative (374.36 ± 28.99) and postoperative QT interval (377.74 ± 30.52) was higher than the preoperative QT interval (365.35 ± 30.32), which was statistically significant (P = 0.01). The mean postoperative QTc interval (413.15 ± 25.63) was higher than the preoperative (407.88± 29.11) and intraoperative QTc interval (408.13 ± 26.22), which was statistically significant (p=0.03). Conclusion: Marcaine-induced spinal anesthesia increased the QTc interval in the normal range, which was statistically significant. Spinal anesthesia had no effect on the PR interval

Spinal Anesthesia, QTc interval, sudden death