Verapamil therapy in the treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias following open heart surgery.
Certain general conclusions suggest themselves on the basis of our extensive experience with treating arrhythmias in patients following open heart surgery, our specific results with verapamil therapy in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter in patients following open heart surgery, and the results of verapamil therapy administered in other groups of patients. First, verapamil can provide highly effective, rapid, and safe control of the ventricular response in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter in patients following open heart surgery. Usually, it should be used in concert with digitalis therapy. Second, extrapolation from the data of others suggests that verapamil has an important role to play in the treatment of most other supraventricular arrhythmias in patients following open heart surgery, particularly if temporary wire electrodes are not available.
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000188:drug therapy; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000188:drug therapy; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D014700:Verapamil