Effect of Inhalational Salbutamol on Electrophysiology of Heart in Children

Abstract

Back ground

Hypoglycaemia is a prominent cause for QT‐interval prolongation and evokes the pro‐arrhythmogenic. Salbutamol, a β2‐adrenoreceptor agonist also causes QT‐interval prolongation. The present study was conducted to investigate the acute electrophysiological effects of salbutamol (selective β2- agonists), administered by nebulization in children and to provide a further insight into the possible cardiovascular effects of inhaled salbutamol.

Materials and Methods

30 children from outpatient department of Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Kadirkamam, Puducherry, were enrolled for the study. The ECG was taken before and after the salbutamol nebulization. The criteria such as Heart rate (HR1&HR2),PR interval (PR1&PR2), QRS duration (QRS1&QRS2), corrected QT interval (QTC1&QTC2), P axis (Paxis1&Paxis2), QRS axis (QRS axis1&QRS axis2), T axis (Taxis1&T axis) were analysed and statistically evaluated. 

Results

 The present study showed that the single regular dose of salbutamol nebulization significantly increased the heart rate, decreased the PR interval, decreased the P axis, and decreased the T axis. But there were no significant changes in QRS duration, QTC interval or QRS axis.

Conclusion

Our study allows us to speculate that the significant tachycardia, shortening of the PR interval (decrease in the AV nodal conduction time), decrease in the T wave axis may facilitate the induction of premature atrial beats and ventricular arrhythmias in patients receiving salbutamol nebulisation.