Elective lung resection increases spatial QRS-T angle and QTc interval

BACKGROUND: Lung resection changes intra-thoracic anatomy, which may affect electrocardiographic results. While postoperative cardiac arrhythmias have been recognized after lung resection, no study has documented changes in vectorcardiographic variables in patients undergoing this surgery. The purpose of this study was to analyse changes in spatial QRS-T angle (spQRS-T) and corrected QT interval (QTc) after lung resection. METHODS: Adult patients undergoing elective lung resection under general anaesthesia were studied. The patients were allocated into four groups: those undergoing (1) left lobectomy (LL); (2) left pneumonectomy (LP); (3) right lobectomy (RL); and (4) right pneumonectomy (RP). The spQRS-T angle and QTc interval were measured one day before surgery (baseline) and 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery. RESULTS: Seventy-one adult patients (47 men and 24 women) aged 47-80 (65 ± 7) years were studied. In the study group as a whole, lung resection was associated with significant increases in spQRS-T (p < 0.001) and QTc (p < 0.05 at 24 and 48 h and p < 0.01 at 72 h). The greatest changes were noted in patients undergoing LP. Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) was noted in 6.4% of patients studied, in whom the widest spQRS-T angle and the most prolonged QTc intervals were also noted. CONCLUSIONS: Lung resection widens the spQRS-T angle and prolongs the QTc interval, especially in patients undergoing LP. While postoperative AF was a relatively rare complication after lung resection in this study, it was associated with the widest spQRS-T angles and most prolonged QTc intervals.