RESUMEN
In order to evaluate the utility af routine preoperative 12 lead eleetrocardiogram, 4,089 patients aged above 16 years who were scheduled for elective surgical operations under general or regional anesthesia at Chonnam University Hospital from September 1988 to August 1990 were analysed retrospectively in terms of age, sex and specific abnormal ECG findings that may alter anesthetic management. The results were as follows. 1) Among the total 4,089 patients, abnormal ECG findings were noted in 2,094 patients (51.2%) and more frequently noted in male (57.3%, 1,231/2,149) than female (44.5%, 863/1,940), and there was significant inrease in its frequency above the age of middle 6 decades. 2) Ventrieular hypertrophy was noted in 19.3% of the total subjects and more frequently noted in male (24.2%) than female (13.7%), and there was significant increase in its frequency above the age of middle 6 decades. 3) Atrioventricular block was noted in 1.8% of the total subjects with 2.1% of male and 1.5% of female, and there was no significant difference in its frequency between each sex and age. 4) Bundle branch block was noted in 5.3% of the total subjects and more frequently noted in male (6.8%) than female (3.7%), and there was significant increase in its frequency above the age of middle 6 decades. 5) ST-T wave abnormality was noted in 3% of the total subjects and more frequently noted in female (4.2%) than male (2.0%) and there was no significant difference in its frequecy between each age groups in male, but the female in respect to male, showed significant increased frequency from the age of middle 5 decades to middle 7 decades. 6) Myocardial infarction was noted in 1.5% of the total subjects with 1.7% of male and 1.2% of female, and there was no significant difference in its frequency between each sex groups but there was significant increase in its frequency above the age of sixty five. 7) Cardiac arrhythmia was noted in 2.8% of the total subjects with 3.0% of male and 2.5% of female, and there was no significant difference in its frenquecy between each sex groups but there was significant increase above the age of sixty five. From the above results, it is essential to check the preoperative 12 lead ECG before emergency operation, and to keep a more careful cautions in mind during anesthetic management for patients above the age of middle 6 decaeds.