Adenosine dose should be less when administered through a central line.
A patient with a port-a-cath was given 12 mg of adenosine for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), resulting in prolonged (13 s) bradycardia and severe side effects. When the same patient presented 2 weeks later for recurrent PSVT, only 3 mg of adenosine was needed to terminate the episode, without the patient experiencing prolonged bradycardia or severe side effects. The literature suggests that for patients with central venous catheters, a lower dose of adenosine should be used to terminate PSVT.
Chang
Michael
M
Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-4700, USA.
Wrenn
Keith
K
D000241:Adenosine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000241:Adenosine