title: Flecainide and cardiac dysrhythmias during dental extraction under anaesthesia.
abstract: In a randomized double-blind study, either oral flecainide acetate 400 mg (a Class IC anti-dysrhythmic drug) or placebo was given in two divided doses 12 and 2 h pre-operatively to 38 patients undergoing outpatient molar extractions under halothane anaesthesia. The ECG was continuously monitored from the patients' arrival at the out-patient theatre until discharge, using a two-channel ambulatory magnetic tape recorder. There was a much lower incidence of ventricular dysrhythmias in patients who received flecainide (22%) than those who received placebo (75%) (P less than 0.05). In addition, dysrhythmias were both more severe and more prolonged in the untreated group, prompting treatment with intravenous practolol in seven patients (35%). Flecainide was well tolerated and no adverse effects were reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Clyburn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fassoulaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000009:adverse effects; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005424:Flecainide / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006221:Halothane / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D014081:Tooth Extraction
chemical_list: D005424:Flecainide; D006221:Halothane