Verapamil in atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.
A double-blind randomized study was performed to compare the efficacy of intravenous verapamil with saline in 28 patients with a rapid ventricular rate and atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm occurred in none of 14 patients after saline and in 3 of 20 patients (15%) 7 to 160 min after verapamil. The ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation was slowed greater than or equal to 15% in 2 of 14 patients (14%) by saline, in 17 of 20 patients (85%) by 1 dose of verapamil (p less than 0.001), and in 19 of 20 patients (95%) by 1 or 2 doses of verapamil (p less than 0.001). Conversion of atrial flutter to sinus rhythm occurred in none of 4 patients after saline and in 1 of 7 patients (14%) 105 min after verapamil. The ventricular rate in atrial flutter was slowed greater than or equal to 15% in none of 4 patients by saline, in 4 of 7 patients (57%) by 1 dose of verapamil, and in 7 of 7 patients (100%) by 1 or 2 doses of verapamil (p less than 0.001).
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014700:Verapamil