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Updated: May 25, 2026

Electrocardiogram Recordings in Anesthetized Mice using Lead II
Published on: June 20, 2020
The influence of anesthesia on cardiac repolarization
R Owczuk1, M A Wujtewicz, A Zienciuk-Krajka
1Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland. r.owczuk@gumed.edu.pl
Abstract:
The drugs and techniques used in contemporary anaesthesia may provoke numerous side effects, including cardiac rhythm disturbances. The prolongation of the repolarization time, reflected by the QT interval in a surface electrocardiogram, is one of the mechanisms that lead to the occurrence of arrhythmias. In the paper, we present the primary mechanism that is responsible for QT interval prolongation and subsequent torsade de pointes ventricular tachycardia. The influence of anesthetics, regional anesthesia and perioperative supportive therapy on cardiac repolarization is described.
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