Anesthetic management of prolonged Q T interval syndrome

Abstract

Prolonged Q-T interval syndrome consists of syncopal episodes due to paroxsymal ventricular dysrhythmias that are generally spontaneously self-limiting but may be fatal. The syndrome is often refractory to the most commonly used antiarrhythmic agents. It may be secondary to an imbalance in sympathetic tone to the heart, and is associated with prolongation of the Q-T interval. This report describes the pre- and intraoperative management of a patient who had prolonged Q-T interval syndrome and describes the rationale for cervicothoracic sympathetic block and ganglionectomy.