Abstract | AIM: BACKGROUND: METHODS: Patients of the Ambulance Service of New South Wales treated by paramedics with continued ventricular fibrillation despite standard resuscitation and > or = 4 defibrillatory monophasic shocks were eligible. Drug doses were sotalol 100 mg or lignocaine 100 mg, given as i.v. boluses. A further 2 min of cardiopulmonary resuscitation was given and then defibrillation was repeated twice. If this failed, half the initial dose of the trial drug was repeated and a further > or = 2 shocks were given. RESULTS: Sixty patients were randomized to sotalol and 69 randomized to lignocaine. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the clinical characteristics of the patients or in the number of shocks received. Outcomes in the sotalol and lignocaine groups were survival to hospital admission in 7 (12%) and 16 (23%), respectively (P = 0.09), and survival to hospital discharge in 2 (3%) and 5 (7%), respectively (P = 0.33). CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | P Kovoor, A Love, J Hall, R Kruit, N Sadick, D Ho, B-A Adelstein, D L Ross |
Journal | Internal medicine journal
(Intern Med J)
Vol. 35
Issue 9
Pg. 518-25
(Sep 2005)
ISSN: 1444-0903 [Print] Australia |
PMID | 16105152
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
- Lidocaine
- Sotalol
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Topics |
- Aged
- Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Heart Arrest
(drug therapy, etiology)
- Humans
- Lidocaine
(therapeutic use)
- Male
- Outpatients
- Retrospective Studies
- Sotalol
(therapeutic use)
- Treatment Outcome
- Ventricular Fibrillation
(complications, drug therapy)
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