Intravenous amiodarone for short-term treatment of refractory ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation.

Abstract

Intravenous amiodarone was administered to 22 patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia failing an average of 3.0 prior antiarrhythmic agents after a mean of 14.6 cardioversions per patient. Patients received a mean bolus of 239 mg amiodarone, and a constant infusion of 0.5 to 1.0 mg/ml was administered over a mean of 50.7 hours. Hypotension requiring pressor agents was seen in nine patients and temporary pacing was needed in five patients. In the hospital, arrhythmic deaths occurred in two (9%) patients and nonarrhythmic deaths occurred in six (27%) patients. There were three late sudden deaths and three additional patients with appropriate automatic defibrillator discharges in follow-up. Intravenous amiodarone is very effective in preventing arrhythmic deaths in patients with refractory ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation.

• Authors: P C Nalos, Y Ismail, J M Pappas, W Nyitray, T A DonMichael
• Journal: American heart journal (Am Heart J) Vol. 122 Issue 6 Pg. 1629-32 (Dec 1991) ISSN: 0002-8703 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1957758 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Amiodarone

Topics

• Aged
• Amiodarone (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Death, Sudden, Cardiac (prevention & control)
• Drug Evaluation
• Electrocardiography (drug effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Male
• Recurrence
• Tachycardia (drug therapy, mortality)
• Time Factors
• Ventricular Fibrillation (drug therapy, mortality)