Effect of Remifentanil on Transmural Dispersion of Ventricular Repolarization: New Study From Japan

Out on PubMed, from investigators in Japan, is this study:


Effect of Remifentanil on the Tpeak-Tend Interval During Electroconvulsive Therapy.
Eda K, Akutsu K, Takasusuki T, Yamaguchi S.Adv Ther. 2023 Nov 1. doi: 10.1007/s12325-023-02713-9. Online ahead of print.PMID: 37910266



The abstract is copied below:

Introduction: QT interval dispersion, which reflects the regional heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization, increases during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Tpeak-Tend (TpTe) is considered a new marker of the transmural dispersion of ventricular repolarization (TDR). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of remifentanil on TpTe during ECT.

Methods: Forty-two patients who were scheduled to undergo ECT with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II randomly received 0.1 μg/kg remifentanil (group R: n = 21) or saline (group C: n = 21). After the induction of general anesthesia, we measured the TpTe, TpTe/QT, TpTe/QTc, TpTe/RR, TpTe/√RR and TpTe/3√RR every minute during ECT (QT: QT interval, QTc: corrected QT interval, RR: RR interval). Statistical analysis was performed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results: Immediately (T0) and 1 min (T1) after electrical stimulation, the RRs (group C: T0; 654.2 ± 145.9 ms, T1; 657.3 ± 114.8 ms, group R: T0; 849.6 ± 249.3 ms, T1; 885.4 ± 213.6 ms, p < 0.05) were significantly increased, while systolic (group C: T0; 177.1 ± 35 mmHg, group R: T0; 129 ± 27.2 mmHg, p < 0.05) and diastolic blood pressures (group C: T0; 107.1 ± 22.4 mmHg, T1; 101.3 ± 23.2 mmHg, group R: T0; 75.4 ± 19.3 mmHg, T1; 80.6 ± 18.3 mmHg, p < 0.05) were significantly decreased in group R compared to group C. The TpTe/RR was significantly lower at T1 in group R compared to group C (group C: 101.5 ± 28.2, group R: 76.8 ± 21.8, p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in TpTe, TpTe/QT, TpTe/QTc, TpTe/√RR or TpTe/3√RR between the two groups throughout the study.

Conclusion: Pretreatment with remifentanil suppressed the increase of TpTe/RR after electrical stimulation. Our results imply that remifentanil may lead to a decrease in TDR during ECT.

Trial registration: This trial was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network (registration number: UMIN000051958).

KeywordsElectroconvulsive therapy; Remifentanil; Tpeak tend; Transmural dispersion of ventricular repolarization.

The paper is here.
And from the text:







This may be too much advanced cardiac electrophysiology, but the take home message is that remifentanil is gentle on the heart. The concept is that adding some remi and decreasing the propofol may reduce the risk of ventricular arrhythmias. Good to know (if true, and replicated) but likely only relevant in a very small subset of patients at risk for such complications.


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