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of H e l s i n k i . Helsinki, Finland The incidence of electrocardiographic (ECG) changes during microlaryngoscopy under halothane anaesthesia was studied in 82 unselected consecutive patients. Twelve patients had ischaemic heart disease (IHD).ECG changes occurred in 42% of all patients. During the procedure, the most common ECG changes in the non-IHD group were ventricular ectopic beats occurring in 20% of the patients. Rapidly ascending S-T segment depression was most common in the IHD group, occurring in 33% of the patients. Other changes in the non-IHD group during the procedure were various types of S-T segment depression, intraventricular conduction disturbances, T wave flattening or inversion, sinus bradycardia and supraventricular tachycardia; and in the IHD group, various types of S-T segment depression, T wave flattening or inversion and supraventricular and ventricular ectopic beats. In both group, all of these other changes occurred in 10% of the patients. Aside from during the procedure itself, some ECG changes were also registered during intubation. ECG changes disappeared after manipulation of the vocal cords or after intubation, without any special treatment.ECG changes, especially ventricular ectopic beats, may be mediated by the sympathetic nervous system because they were associated with increased heart rate.

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