title: Clinical and cost comparison of ibutilide and direct-current cardioversion for atrial fibrillation and flutter.
abstract: The clinical effectiveness and cost to convert recent-onset atrial fibrillation or flutter to sinus after 3 to 4 weeks of anticoagulation with intravenous ibutilide was compared with direct-current cardioversion. The low success rate with ibutilide made direct-current cardioversion the more clinical and cost-effective method to restore sinus rhythm.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Associates of Northern Wisconsin, Wausau, USA.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Murdock
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Schumock
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaliebe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Guenette
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000191:economics*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D013449:Sulfonamides; C067192:ibutilide