Cardiac arrhythmias during fiberoptic bronchoscopy and relation with oxygen saturation

• Published in: Lung India Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 54 - 59
• Main Authors: Hassan G, Khan G, Yaseen M, Masood T, Qureshi Waseem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 01-04-2005
• Subjects: Cardiac arrhythmias; Fiberoptic bronchoscopy; Hypoxemia
• ISSN: 0970-2113; 0974-598X

To evaluate the occurrence of electrocardiographic abnormalities during fiberoptic bronchoscopy, in relation to specific stages of the procedures, patients′ age, sex, smoking, pre-existing lung disease, premedication and oxygen saturation, a prospective study was conducted on 56 patients aged 35 to 75 (mean 62) years without pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Patients were connected to a 12-lead computerized electrocardiographic recorder and pulse oximeter. Fall of oxygen saturation from mean of 95.12% before the procedure to below 80% was observed in 12 (21.4%) patients and below 75% in 5 (8.9%) patients, at various stages. Statistically highly significant (p < 0.001) fall of oxygen saturation was observed during the procedures while bronchoscope was introduced into the airways and tracheobronchial tree examined. Major disturbances of cardiac rhythm (i.e. atrial, ventricular or both) developed in 23 (41.07%) patients. Out of these, sinus tachycardia was noted in 16 (69.5%), ventricular premature complexes in 5 (21.7%) and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in 2 (8.6%) patients. Arrhythmias were most frequent in association with periods of maximum oxygen desaturation in 18 (78.2%) of these 23 patients. Oxygen desaturation persisted for more than half an hour in 38 (67.8%) of the 56 patients. However, no correlation was observed between the frequency of arrhythmias during bronchoscopy and patients′ age, sex pre-medication or pre-existing pulmonary disease.