A comparison of the effects of sevoflurane and desflurane inhalation anesthesia on electrocardiographic parameters: a prospective cohort study

Background: Sevoflurane and desflurane have been associated with several cardiac effects. The present study aimed to compare the effects of sevoflurane and desflurane on intraoperative and postoperative electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters. Methods: The study included 86 patients who were scheduled for rhinoplasty surgery. After induction, the patients were divided into two groups: the sevoflurane group (Group 1) and the desflurane group (Group 2). The oxygen saturation levels, heart rates (HR), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) values of the patients were recorded at 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes post-intubation as well as at 5 minutes post-extubation. Furthermore, the 12-lead ECG was used to record the P wave, PR interval, ST depression, QRS interval, QRS alternans, QT, QTc, JT, and JTc values for all patients preoperatively and at 30 minutes and 12 hours postoperatively. Results: The HRs in Group 2 were statistically significantly higher at 30 and 60 minutes post-intubation and post-extubation. In addition, the MAP values at 10, 30, and 60 minutes post-intubation were significantly lower in Group 2. The QT, JT, and JTc values of Group 1 were statistically significantly longer than those of Group 2 at 30 minutes and 12 hours postoperatively. The QTc value at 30 minutes postoperatively was statistically significantly prolonged in Group 1. Conclusion: Because sevoflurane was associated with longer QT, QTc, JT, and JTc intervals than desflurane, anesthesia management should be carefully planned when using sevoflurane, especially in cardiac risk groups.