Abstract
Background & Aims: The prevalence of isolated minor nonspecific ST-segment and T-wave abnormalities (NSSTTAs) in patients undergoing surgeries for acute abdomen are poorly understood. Minor NSSTTAs are common in asymptomatic patients and often occur in the absence of other ECG abnormalities. Thus, we study the prevalence of NSSTTAs in patients undergoing surgeries for acute abdomen. Material and Method: This retrospective study was conducted at our hospital. Data of all 120 patients such as demographic data (age, gender), their smoking habit, clinical conditions causing acute abdomen, hypercholesteremia, ECG changes were collected from record. Through this information, prevalence of NSSTTAs among patients undergoing surgeries for acute abdomen were checked and their correlation with demographic data, smoking habit, hypercholesteremia and their cause of acute abdomen were checked. Results: Out of 120 patients, 16 patients were having history of IHD and 5 patients having history of chest pain along with ECG changes so these 21 patients were excluded from the study. As these ECG changes were probably due to cardiac cause. So, data of remaining 99 patients were studied. Among these patients, 40 patients’ ECG showing NSSTTAs. Demographically out of these 40 patients, 30 were above 40 years of age and 10 were below 40 years of age, 28 were male and 12 were female. Among these patients who showing non-specific ECG changes, 32 were smoker and 12 patients serum lipid profile showed hypercholesteremia. Among these, 22 patients were operated for acute cholecystitis, 10 were for acute appendicitis, 4 were for intestinal obstruction, 2 were for pyelolithotomy, 2 were for peptic perforation. Conclusion: The prevalence of NSSTTAs among patients coming for general abdominal surgeries was almost 40.4%. These changes were more seen in eldery individual and smoker. Also clinical conditions like cholecystitis, appendicitis were produces nonspecific ECG changes. Sometime NSSTTAs were due to physiological response other than any cardiac events.
