Electrocardiographic changes after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

To determine whether ECG changes observed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy could be correlated with procedure characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS. We studied prospectively 500 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for documented gallstones and prior history of cardiovascular disease, volume of carbon dioxide insufflated in the peritoneal cavity, duration of the procedure and intra-abdominal pressure created.

We found that 9 (1.8%) patients developed LV strain, 2 (0.4%) patients--atrial fibrillation, 2 (0.4%) patients--tachyarrhythmia in the presence of AF, 1 (0.2%) patient--RBBB and 1 (0.2%) patient--myocardial ischemia with ST depression regarding these ECG leads. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using multifactorial logistic regression analysis. These changes were not correlated to the above referred procedure characteristics.

We conclude that ECG changes are frequent events after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (3%) but are not correlated to prior history of cardiovascular disease, the duration of the procedure, the volume of carbon dioxide insufflated and the intra-abdominal pressure.