This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Venkatesan, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Venkatesan, T.

---

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Desflurane's Effect on QTc Interval: Electrophysiological Mechanisms Need to Be Explored

Christian Medical College Hospital, Tamilnadu, India, dr_venkat{at}yahoo.com

To the Editor:

Owczuk et al. (1) incorrectly state that their report is the first to describe the influence of desflurane on the QT interval. The influence of desflurane on the QT interval was reported by Yildirim et al. (2) several months earlier. Although the study by Owczuk et al. focuses only on QT correction for heart rate (QTc), the study by Yildirim et al. explores the effects of sevoflurane, isoflurane, and desflurane on various aspects of QT interval (2), including QT dispersion (QTD), heart rate corrected QT interval (QTc), and QTc dispersion of the electrocardiogram (QTcD). The effects of desflurane on QTc interval are comparable in both studies. One MAC of inhaled anesthetic causes a significant increase in QTc, QTD, and QTcD (2). Further electrophysiological studies are needed to determine whether the effects of desflurane on the QT interval are mediated by an increase in transmural dispersion of repolarization (e.g., halothane (3)) or a reduction in I_k current (e.g., sevoflurane) (4).

References

1. Owczuk R, Wujtewicz MA, Sawicka W, et al. The influence of desflurane on QTc interval. Anesth Analg 2005;101:419–22.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
2. Yildirim H, Adanir T, Atay A, et al. The effects of sevoflurane, isoflurane and desflurane on QT interval of the ECG. Eur J Anaesthesiol 2004;21:566–70.[Web of Science][Medline]
3. Weissenburger J, Nesterenko VV, Antzelevitch C. Transmural heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization under baseline and long QT conditions in the canine heart in vivo: torsades de pointes develops with halothane but not pentobarbital anesthesia. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2000;11:290–304.[Web of Science][Medline]
4. Park WK, Pancrazio JJ, Suh CK, Lynch C III. Myocardial depressant effects of sevoflurane: mechanical and electrophysiologic actions in vitro. Anesthesiology 1996;84:1166–76.[Web of Science][Medline]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Owczuk, M. A. Wujtewicz, W. Sawicka, J. Lasek, and M. Wujtewicz Desflurane's Effect on QTc Interval: Electrophysiological Mechanisms Need to Be Explored Anesth. Analg., May 1, 2006; 102(5): 1593 - 1593. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Yildirim Desflurane's Effect on QTc Interval: Electrophysiological Mechanisms Need to Be Explored Anesth. Analg., May 1, 2006; 102(5): 1593 - 1593. [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Venkatesan, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Venkatesan, T.