Intravenous amiodarone for short-term treatment of refractory ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation.
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.
Nalos
P C
PC
Central Cardiology Medical Clinic, Bakersfield, CA 93301.
Ismail
Y
Y
Pappas
J M
JM
Nyitray
W
W
DonMichael
T A
TA
D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality
D000638:Amiodarone