Yang H, Jeon W, Ko Y, et al. - Among children with acute gastroenteritis (AGE), treatment with a single dose of oral ondansetron did not induce high-risk corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation or fatal arrhythmia.

• There have been reports of QT prolongation in patients using ondansetron.

• In this retrospective observational study of 80 patients, the impact of oral ondansetron on QT interval in mildly to moderately dehydrated children with AGE was inquired.

• The mean dose of oral ondansetron was 0.18 ± 0.04 mg/kg, and QTc values prior to (preQTc) and following (postQTc) ondansetron use were evaluated.

• The mean preQTc and the mean postQTc was 403.3 ± 24.0 ms and 407.2 ± 26.7 ms, respectively.

• A preQTc ≥460 ms was seen in two patients, and a postQTc ≥460 ms was present in one patient.

• Seven patients (8.8%) had ΔQTc (change from preQTc to postQTc) ≥30 ms, and it was noted that no ΔQTc was ≥60 ms, and no pre- or postQTc was ≥500 ms.

• Post-receipt of ondansetron, none of the patients suffered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia.