CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF FIBEROPTIC GASTROSCOPY

Changes in the heart rate, blood pressure and ECG during the fiberoptic gastroscopy were studied in 77 cases. The heart rate and the diastolic pressure were already significantly increased following premedication before the insertion of the gastroscopy as compared with the values at the outpatient clinic. Further increase in the heart rate was observed during the gastroscopy, especially at the time of insertion. The diastolic pressure was also elevated by the insertion. Although similar elevation of the systolic pressure during the examination was observed, the change was not remarkable.Ventricular and/or supraventricular premature beats appeared in 22 cases (28.6%) during the examination. The incidence of the cardiac arrhythmias was remarkably high in the patients above the age of 50 years. A significant ST-T change was induced in 6 cases including 3 cases with normal resting ECG. However, no patient complained of anginal chest pain during the examination, and serious cardiovasculay complications were not oberved in the present series.Possible usefulness of beta-adrenergic blocker for the prevention of tachycardia and arrhythmia was suggested.