title: [Efficacy of procainamide in the treatment of refractory ventricular fibrillation: report of 4 cases and a review of the literature].
abstract: Ventricular fibrillation is the most common malignant arrhythmia, found in up to 55% of patients who go on to experience cardiac arrest. Only monophasic or biphasic defibrillation has been shown to be effective. The efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs is much lower and depends on how much time has elapsed since the onset of symptoms. In patients with persistent ventricular fibrillation refractory to shocks, treatment options are limited. We report 4 cases in which procainamide was administered at a dosage of 17 mg/kg in 1 minute. Heart rhythm was restored and pulse rate recovered in less than 3 minutes in all cases.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Fellowship en Cardiología, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. edo11@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Zúñiga E
authors.initials: ZE
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: Zuluaga S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Ximena
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011342:Procainamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D011342:Procainamide