Role of adenosine in the diagnosis and treatment of postoperative supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.
Adenosine (Adenocard) has a potent but very transient negative dromotropic effect on atrioventricular (A-V) nodal conduction. By slowing A-V nodal conduction, adenosine may interrupt a re-entry pathway causing paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia or facilitate the diagnosis of other supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) by exposing the underlying atrial activity. We report 15 postoperative cases in which adenosine was used to clarify the diagnosis of postoperative SVT, and allowed the appropriate postoperative care.
Dimich
I
I
Department of Anesthesiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.
Singh
P P
PP
Herschman
Z
Z
Neustein
S
S
Sampson
I
I
Sonnenklar
N
N
D000241:Adenosine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*
D000241:Adenosine