OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine whether a routine preoperative ECG is necessary in @entity1 to assess the risks in anaesthesia and surgery. METHODS: We examined the records of 3030 @entity1 anaesthetized in our hospital in 1990 and compared records of complications with preoperative ECGs. We also evaluated questionnaires on this subject which we had sent to 51 large pediatric hospitals in Germany in 1991. RESULTS: During 3030 anaesthetic procedures there were 93 complications, 67 of which were not of cardiac origin. Of the 26 cardiac complications only 4 needed therapy (AV-Block 2 degrees, @entity551 ). Preoperative ECGs were recorded in 180 cases: 152 were normal, 8 showed harmless deviations from normal and 16 were recorded because of known @entity299 . None of the 180 @entity1 developed complications during anaesthesia. Our questionnaire was returned completed carefully by 36 of the 51 hospitals. In most hospitals a preoperative ECG is only recorded when @entity299 is known or suspected. CONCLUSION: Routine preoperative ECGs are unnecessary in @entity1 unless there are clinical symptoms of @entity299 or @entity299 is suspected.

[Preoperative ECG in routine preoperative assessment of XXXX ].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children'] @entity551 :: ('MESH:D007022', 'Disease') :: ['fall in blood pressure'] @entity299 :: ('MESH:D006331', 'Disease') :: ['cardiac defects', 'heart diseases', 'heart disease']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['children']
