Abstract
Continuous Holier monitoring was performed before, during and after upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in 50 unselected, consecutive elderly patients (median age 80 years: range 68–89).
In contrast to other studies the patients received no atropine or opiate premedication and were monitored for a prolonged period usually 24 hours after endoscopy. Comparison of a control period when the patient was lying at rest before endoscopy with the period of endoscopy itself revealed an increased frequency of arrhythmias during endoscopy, Forty-eight per cent of patients developed a new arrhythmia or an increased frequency of existing arrythmia during endoscopy. All arrhythmias were short and self-terminating. Evidence of cardiac disease conferred a significantly increased risk of developing an arrhythmia during endoscopy.
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