Key result
A 10-U oxytocin bolus linked to a transient ~41 ms QTc prolongation in healthy women.
Why the study?
Oxytocin is routinely given as an intravenous bolus during surgical suction curettage, but its effect on QT interval and potential proarrhythmia risk is unclear.
Does a 10-U intravenous bolus of oxytocin prolong the QTc interval in healthy women undergoing surgical suction curettage?
Observational (n=38)
Does a 10-U intravenous bolus of oxytocin prolong the QTc interval in healthy women undergoing surgical suction curettage?
Mean Difference: 41
p-value: p=<.0001
A 10-U intravenous bolus of oxytocin causes a significant, transient prolongation of the QTc interval, suggesting a potential risk for proarrhythmia in susceptible patients.
Oxytocin bolus transiently prolongs QTc ~40 ms in healthy women; warrants caution in long-QT patients and leaves proarrhythmic risk hypothesis-generating.
BACKGROUND: Although oxytocin, a uterotonic agent, may cause short-term vasodilation that results in severe hypotension, it is still routinely given as an intravenous bolus injection during surgical suction curettage. Two reported cases of ventricular tachycardia after oxytocin bolus in patients with long QT interval syndrome led us to assess the effect of oxytocin on QT interval. METHOD: Thirty-eight healthy women scheduled for a surgical suction curettage with general anesthesia were enrolled. General anesthesia was induced by propofol and maintained by either propofol (n = 18) or sevoflurane (n = 20). Electrocardiographic recordings were obtained before and at 1, 2, 3, and 5 minutes after a 10-U intravenous bolus of oxytocin. RESULTS: Intravenous oxytocin induced a pronounced QTc interval prolongation of 41 +/- 21 ms ( P < .0001), which was maximal 1 minute after administration. The QTc interval returned to control values 3 minutes after oxytocin bolus. Oxytocin bolus also induced an increase in heart rate of 19 +/- 10 beats/min and a significant decrease in systolic arterial pressure of 11 +/- 9 mm Hg (both P < .0001). The drug used to maintain anesthesia was not an independent factor of QT interval prolongation in ANOVA analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Oxytocin intravenous bolus induced a large and transient QTc interval prolongation, suggesting that it may lead to proarrhythmia in circumstances favoring QTc interval increase.
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Charbit et al. (2004) conducted an observational in Surgical suction curettage (n=38). Oxytocin vs. Baseline (before administration) was evaluated on QTc interval prolongation (MD 41 ms, p=<.0001). A 10-U intravenous bolus of oxytocin induced a pronounced and transient QTc interval prolongation of 41 ± 21 ms (P<0.0001) in healthy women undergoing surgical suction curettage.
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