Key result
Anemia during cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia is linked to a ~44% wider postoperative fQRS-T angle.
Why the study?
Pregnancy-related physiological changes, anemia, and spinal anesthesia may influence myocardial repolarization, but their combined effect on the frontal QRS-T angle is unclear.
Does anemia increase the frontal QRS-T angle and QTc interval in pregnant women undergoing elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia?
Observational (n=100)
No
Does anemia increase the frontal QRS-T angle and QTc interval in pregnant women undergoing elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia?
Anemia in pregnant women undergoing elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia is associated with significant postoperative increases in myocardial repolarization heterogeneity, as measured by the f(QRS-T) angle and QTc interval.
Anemia-associated repolarization changes after cesarean should not yet change practice; leaves open links to arrhythmia risk and need for prospective trials.
Background/Objectives: Pregnancy is associated with profound physiological alterations that, together with anemia and spinal anesthesia, may influence myocardial repolarization. The frontal QRS-T [f(QRS-T)] angle has emerged as a reliable electrocardiographic parameter for evaluating repolarization heterogeneity. Materials and Methods: This observational prospective study included 100 term pregnant women [18–45 years, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) II] undergoing elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia at Sanliurfa Training and Research Hospital between May and August 2025. Participants were divided into two groups: anemic (Hb < 10.5 g/dL, n = 50) and non-anemic (Hb ≥ 10.5 g/dL, n = 50). Standard monitoring and 12-lead ECGs were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. The f(QRS-T) angle was calculated as the absolute difference between QRS and T axes; values > 180° were adjusted by subtracting from 360°. Results: Demographic variables were comparable between groups. No significant differences were observed in mean arterial pressure or heart rate. Preoperative QTc and f(QRS-T) angle values did not differ significantly. However, postoperative QTc was prolonged in the anemic group compared with non-anemic women (426.3 ± 19.2 ms vs. 417.2 ± 20.7 ms, p = 0.026). Likewise, the postoperative f(QRS-T) angle was significantly higher in anemic patients (29.5 [16.0–45.3] vs. 20.5 [9.8–34.5], p = 0.017). Within-group analysis revealed significant postoperative increases in both QTc (p < 0.001) and f(QRS-T) angle (p < 0.001) in the anemic group, but not in controls. Hemoglobin levels correlated negatively with postoperative QTc (r = −0.267, p = 0.008) and f(QRS-T) angle (r = −0.264, p = 0.008). Conclusions: In anemic patients undergoing cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia, the postoperative QTc interval and f(QRS-T) angle increased significantly compared with both baseline values and non-anemic counterparts. Assessment of the f(QRS-T) angle, a simple and inexpensive ECG-derived parameter, may aid in perioperative risk stratification and enhance patient safety.
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Kaya et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Pregnancy undergoing elective cesarean delivery (n=100). Anemia (Hb < 10.5 g/dL) vs. Non-anemic (Hb ≥ 10.5 g/dL) was evaluated on Postoperative f(QRS-T) angle (p=0.017). Anemia in women undergoing cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia was associated with a significantly higher postoperative f(QRS-T) angle compared to non-anemic patients (29.5 vs 20.5; p=0.017).
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