Comparison of the Effect of Spinal Anesthesia Applied in Elective Cesarean Cases on Frontal QRS Angle in Anemic and Non-Anemic Patients

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Pregnancy is associated with profound physiological alterations that, together with anemia and spinal anesthesia, may influence myocardial repolarization. The frontal QRS-T [f(QRS-T)] angle has emerged as a reliable electrocardiographic parameter for evaluating repolarization heterogeneity. <b>Materials and Methods</b>: This observational prospective study included 100 term pregnant women [18-45 years, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) II] undergoing elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia at Sanliurfa Training and Research Hospital between May and August 2025. Participants were divided into two groups: anemic (Hb < 10.5 g/dL, <i>n</i> = 50) and non-anemic (Hb ≥ 10.5 g/dL, <i>n</i> = 50). Standard monitoring and 12-lead ECGs were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. The f(QRS-T) angle was calculated as the absolute difference between QRS and T axes; values > 180° were adjusted by subtracting from 360°. <b>Results</b>: Demographic variables were comparable between groups. No significant differences were observed in mean arterial pressure or heart rate. Preoperative QTc and f(QRS-T) angle values did not differ significantly. However, postoperative QTc was prolonged in the anemic group compared with non-anemic women (426.3 ± 19.2 ms vs. 417.2 ± 20.7 ms, <i>p</i> = 0.026). Likewise, the postoperative f(QRS-T) angle was significantly higher in anemic patients (29.5 [16.0-45.3] vs. 20.5 [9.8-34.5], <i>p</i> = 0.017). Within-group analysis revealed significant postoperative increases in both QTc (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and f(QRS-T) angle (<i>p</i> < 0.001) in the anemic group, but not in controls. Hemoglobin levels correlated negatively with postoperative QTc (r = -0.267, <i>p</i> = 0.008) and f(QRS-T) angle (r = -0.264, <i>p</i> = 0.008). <b>Conclusions</b>: In anemic patients undergoing cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia, the postoperative QTc interval and f(QRS-T) angle increased significantly compared with both baseline values and non-anemic counterparts. Assessment of the f(QRS-T) angle, a simple and inexpensive ECG-derived parameter, may aid in perioperative risk stratification and enhance patient safety.

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Journal
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Published
2025-11-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14217827
Primary Topic
Cardiovascular Issues in Pregnancy
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article
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article

Comparison of the Effect of Spinal Anesthesia Applied in Elective Cesarean Cases on Frontal QRS Angle in Anemic and Non-Anemic Patients

Mehmet Tercan, Alev Esercan, Mahmut Alp Karahan, Ahmet Kaya et al.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Cardiovascular Issues in Pregnancy
article

Comparison of the Effect of Spinal Anesthesia Applied in Elective Cesarean Cases on Frontal QRS Angle in Anemic and Non-Anemic Patients

Mehmet Tercan, Alev Esercan, Mahmut Alp Karahan, Ahmet Kaya, Ömer Faruk Çiçek, Melike Bostanci Erkmen
article en

Abstract

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Pregnancy is associated with profound physiological alterations that, together with anemia and spinal anesthesia, may influence myocardial repolarization. The frontal QRS-T [f(QRS-T)] angle has emerged as a reliable electrocardiographic parameter for evaluating repolarization heterogeneity. <b>Materials and Methods</b>: This observational prospective study included 100 term pregnant women [18-45 years, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) II] undergoing elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia at Sanliurfa Training and Research Hospital between May and August 2025. Participants were divided into two groups: anemic (Hb < 10.5 g/dL, <i>n</i> = 50) and non-anemic (Hb ≥ 10.5 g/dL, <i>n</i> = 50). Standard monitoring and 12-lead ECGs were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. The f(QRS-T) angle was calculated as the absolute difference between QRS and T axes; values > 180° were adjusted by subtracting from 360°. <b>Results</b>: Demographic variables were comparable between groups. No significant differences were observed in mean arterial pressure or heart rate. Preoperative QTc and f(QRS-T) angle values did not differ significantly. However, postoperative QTc was prolonged in the anemic group compared with non-anemic women (426.3 ± 19.2 ms vs. 417.2 ± 20.7 ms, <i>p</i> = 0.026). Likewise, the postoperative f(QRS-T) angle was significantly higher in anemic patients (29.5 [16.0-45.3] vs. 20.5 [9.8-34.5], <i>p</i> = 0.017). Within-group analysis revealed significant postoperative increases in both QTc (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and f(QRS-T) angle (<i>p</i> < 0.001) in the anemic group, but not in controls. Hemoglobin levels correlated negatively with postoperative QTc (r = -0.267, <i>p</i> = 0.008) and f(QRS-T) angle (r = -0.264, <i>p</i> = 0.008). <b>Conclusions</b>: In anemic patients undergoing cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia, the postoperative QTc interval and f(QRS-T) angle increased significantly compared with both baseline values and non-anemic counterparts. Assessment of the f(QRS-T) angle, a simple and inexpensive ECG-derived parameter, may aid in perioperative risk stratification and enhance patient safety.

Journal of Clinical MedicineVol. 14(21)
University of Health Science (KH), Uni Research (Norway) (NO), Antalya Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR), Şanlıurfa Mehmet Akif İnan Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR), Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi (TR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 50%
Cardiovascular Issues in Pregnancy
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