title: Amiodarone as treatment for atrial tachycardias after surgery.
abstract: Atrial flutter, including all types of postoperative atrial tachycardias, is the one with the highest risk of late sudden death. Thus, late postoperative atrial tachycardias must be suppressed and all patients should be permanently treated after a first episode of atrial flutter. Daily oral doses of 200-250 mg/m2 amiodarone were found to be highly effective and well tolerated in young patients. However, in older patients and after long-term therapy, its use is restricted by adverse side-effects. In these cases, association of lower doses of antiarrhythmic agents, including amiodarone, may be effective and well tolerated. The use of other therapeutic options such as radiofrequency ablation should also be considered in older patients having drug-refractory postoperative atrial flutter.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Necker, Paris, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Villain
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000638:Amiodarone