Effect of Short-Term Use of Sevoflurane on QT Interval in Children Undergoing Eye Surgery

Studies have shown that taking anesthesia drugs can increase QT interval. We investigated the effect of short-term use of sevoflurane on QT and QTc intervals in the early stages of anesthesia and in children. In this prospective cohort study, 52 patients aged 2–14 years, were enrolled. Children were randomly divided into two groups: sevoflurane (S) and control (sodium thiopental, P). In the intervention group, anesthesia induction using sevoflurane was continued for 10–15 minutes and the sevoflurane level was adjusted so that the end-expiratory concentration remained constant at 3%. In group P (control group), anesthesia was induced with 5 mg/kg sodium thiopental. ECGs were taken at 0, 5, 10, and 15 minutes after induction of anesthesia and compared between both groups. QT measurement in lead II in the four times showed that the two groups were not significantly different from each other, and all values obtained were in the normal range and less than 0.44. Measurement of QT in lead V5 showed that the QT interval between groups increased 10 and 15 minutes postoperatively in both groups, and this increase was more in group P than the S group. In group S, QT values in 10 and 15 minutes compared to time 0 and 5 were associated with an increase of about 0.01 seconds and the increase was not significant. Short-term use of sevoflurane does not increase QT and QTc levels in children undergoing surgery without intubation and need for muscle relaxants.