[Cardiac side-effects of oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy in relation to premedication (author's transl)]

The electrocardiogram was monitored in 100 patients undergoing oesphago-gastro-duodenoscopy. Premedication differed: 25 patients each were given either (Group I) atropine 0.5 mg, hyoscine-N-butylbromide 20 mg, and diazepam 5 mg, or (Group II) hyoscine-N-butyl-bromide 20 mg and diazepam 5 mg, or (Group II) diazepam 5 mg and glucagon 0.2 mg, or (Group IV) only diazepam 5 mg intravenously. After injection of the parasympatholytic drugs (Groups I and II) there was a significantly higher heart rate duringthe entire length of the examination than in groups III and IV. Nine of the ten cases of ascending S-T depression were found in Groups I and II, while descending (ischaemic) S-T changes occurred equally frequently in patients of all four groups. Two of the three more serious arrhythmias were registered after atropine. Since parasympatholytic drugs fail to inhibit arrhythmias and ST-T changes, while accentuating the rise in heart rate, it is recommended that premedication for oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy should not include such drugs.