A new method to induce topical cooling of the right atrium for treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmia: an experimental study.
Supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT) such as sinus tachycardia and atrial dysrhythmia is a life-threatening problem in the period immediately following an open-heart operation. Because of their negative inotropic effects, antiarrhythmic agents are not recommended for patients with low cardiac output syndrome. A device was developed that topically cools the right atrial surface for antiarrhythmic treatment. In experiments, this device lowered right atrial temperature and did not affect the temperature of the right ventricle or the whole body. When right atrial temperature decreased from 37 degrees to 28 degrees C, heart rate was reduced from 146.3 to 109.7 beats per minute (p less than .001). Meanwhile, cardiac output and blood pressure remained within control levels. In the treatment of experimental SVT induced by the intravenous infusion of isoproterenol hydrochloride and by direct application of aconitine, this method worked effectively and was reproducible. The results demonstrated the beneficial effects of this method in the treatment of SVT in experimental studies and suggested its future clinical application following open-heart operations.
D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D004285:Dogs; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006439:Hemodynamics; D007545:Isoproterenol; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery
D007545:Isoproterenol