Droperidol for perioperative sedation causes a transient prolongation of the QTc time in children under volatile anesthesia

Paediatric Anaesthesia
Eckehard A E StuthRichard J Berens

Abstract

Droperidol is useful for postoperative sedation in infants and children after cardiac surgery because it provides sedation and akinesia with minimal respiratory depression. However, droperidol has been associated with QT prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias. We investigated, if neuroleptanalgesic doses of droperidol led to QT prolongation and cardiac arrhythmias in children undergoing cardiac surgery. We retrospectively analysed electrocardiogram rhythm strips that were obtained before and in time increments after a 100 microg x kg(-1) intravenous bolus of droperidol in 20 children undergoing cardiac surgery. The longest QT interval was determined in each ECG and corrected for heart rate (QTc). All arrhythmias were recorded. Droperidol led to a significant increase in QTc time that was still present at 15 min but had resolved within 30 min after the bolus. No associated arrhythmias were observed. The statistically significant prolongation of QTc time after a sedative dose of droperidol is of concern because it may increase the risk for malignant cardiac arrhythmias. A large, prospective study is necessary to identify the true risk for arrhythmias after droperidol in this patient population, but our study suggests that any a...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Sep 24, 2004·Paediatric Anaesthesia·Frederic A Berry
Apr 20, 2010·Pediatric Emergency Care·Kenneth Szwak, Alfred Sacchetti
Dec 18, 2010·Paediatric Drugs·Loretta Sonnier, Drew Barzman
Feb 13, 2007·Paediatric Drugs·Anthony L Kovac
Oct 28, 2020·Paediatric Drugs·Anthony L Kovac
Jan 27, 2021·Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia·Naoko NiimiKatherine Zaleski

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