Results of long-term ECG monitoring in patients submitting to tonsillectomy under local anaesthesia

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Abstract
Sixteen patients submitted to tonsillectomy under local anaesthesia in a sitting position were studied electrocardiographically. Continuous ECG monitoring was used to discover whether there were any electrocardiographic changes, especially ventricular extrasystolies, during the operation. During the entire registration time, which varied from 4.5-22.5 hours, ventricular extrasystolies were found in seven of the sixteen patients. During the operation only a single VES was seen, in one patient. We conclude that tonsillectomy done under local anaesthesia is safe from the cardiovascular point of view.