QTc prolongation after haloperidol administration in critically ill patients post cardiovascular surgery: A cohort study and review of the literature.

QTc prolongation after haloperidol administration in critically ill patients post cardiovascular surgery: A cohort study and review of the literature. Palliat Support Care. 2020 Apr 29;:1-13 Authors: Burbuqe I, Boettger S, Schubert M, Bettex D, Rudiger A Abstract OBJECTIVE: From case reports, haloperidol administration has been associated with QTc prolongation, torsades de pointes, and sudden cardiac death. In a vulnerable population of critically ill patients after cardiac surgery, however, it is unclear whether haloperidol administration affects the QTc interval. Thus, the aim of this study is to explore the effect of haloperidol in low doses on this interval. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study was performed on a cardio-surgical intensive care unit (ICU), screened 2,216 patients and eventually included 68 patients with delirium managed with oral and intravenous haloperidol. In this retrospective analysis, electrocardiograms were taken prior and within 24 h after haloperidol administration. The effect of haloperidol on QTc was determined with a Person correlation, and inter-group differences were measured with new long QT comparisons. RESULTS: In total, 68 patients were included, the median age was 71 (64-79) years and predominantly male (77%). Haloperidol administration followed ICU admission by three days and the cumulative dose was 4 (2-9) mg. As a result, haloperidol administration did not affect the QTc (r ...
Source: Palliative and Supportive Care - Category: Palliative Care Authors: Tags: Palliat Support Care Source Type: research