Use of ajmaline in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome to disclose short refractory period of the accessory pathway.
Ajmaline given intravenously produced complete anterograde block in the accessory pathway of 32 of 59 patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. An electrophysiologic investigation performed 1 day later revealed that failure of ajmaline to produce complete anterograde block in the accessory pathway corresponded to a short refractory period of this pathway (less than 270 ms). The use of ajmaline intravenously is advanced as a reliable and rapid procedure for identifying those patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome who have a short refractory period of the accessory pathway and are possible at risk of circulatory insufficiency or sudden death if atrial fibrillation supervenes.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000404:Ajmaline / Q000009:adverse effects; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014927:Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*
D000404:Ajmaline