Summary
Heart rate, blood pressure and ECG changes during fiberoptic gastroscopy were examined in 128 patients, 60 of whom had been orally premedicated with Mexiletine. 55 % of the non-premedicated patients developed occasional, and 22 % of this group developed accumulated or frequent, premature ventricular contractions. In the patient group with antiarrhythmic premedication, the respective figures were 25 % and 8 %, and in this group patients with a normal ECG developed premature ventricular contractions less frequently than patients with pathological changes in the ST segment. The antiarrhythmic premedication had no influence on pulse or blood pressure.
Key words:
Mexiletine - Gastroscopic examinations - Premature ventricular contractions
