Treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with adenosine: implications for nursing.
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a frequently occurring arrhythmia. Currently, verapamil and manual vagal stimulation are the first-line interventions for PSVT. Although verapamil is widely used for the treatment of PSVT, it can result in hypotension and ventricular fibrillation if given to a patient with ventricular tachycardia. Because the differential diagnosis of broad QRS complex tachycardia is difficult, the development of a safer drug for the treatment of both narrow- and broad-complex tachycardia is extremely important. Adenosine is a promising new drug for the treatment of PSVT. Its use is reviewed in three presentations.
Severson
A L
AL
Oregon Health Sciences University, School of Nursing, Portland 97201.
Meyer
L T
LT
D000241:Adenosine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013614:Tachycardia, Paroxysmal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014700:Verapamil; D000241:Adenosine