Deleterious effects of intravenous verapamil in Wolff-Parkinson-White patients and atrial fibrillation.
Three patients presented to the emergency room with atrial fibrillation and fast ventricular response with wide preexcited QRS complexes (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome). All three patients received intravenous verapamil (5-10 mg). The first patient developed ventricular fibrillation requiring several defibrillations; the second patient developed severe hemodynamic deterioration requiring urgent cardioversion; in the third patient a marked increment in the ventricular response was noted, however, there was no hemodynamic impairment. Verapamil may cause detrimental results when given to patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and atrial fibrillation. Its administration should therefore be considered as an absolute contraindication in these patients.
Strasberg
B
B
Israel and Ione Massada Center for Heart Diseases, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Sagie
A
A
Rechavia
E
E
Katz
A
A
Ovsyscher
I A
IA
Sclarovsky
S
S
Agmon
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014927:Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome / Q000150:complications*
D014700:Verapamil