Intravenous amiodarone used alone or in combination with digoxin for life-threatening supraventricular tachyarrhythmia in neonates and small infants.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to report the efficacy of intravenous amiodarone alone or in combination with digoxin in neonates and small infants with life-threatening supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT).


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 9 neonates and small infants with life-threatening or resistant SVT who were treated with intravenous amiodarone alone or in combination with digoxin.


RESULTS
This report consists of 8 patients with reentrant SVT and 1 with atrial flutter. On admission, 7 patients had a congestive heart failure and 3 of whom had cardiovascular collapse. Intravenous rapid bolus of adenosine caused a sustained sinus rhythm in 4 patients. These patients were given digoxin initially, but recurrence of persistent tachyarrhythmia necessitated the use of intravenous amiodarone in all these patients. Amiodarone was given initially to the other 4 patients in whom adenosine caused only temporary conversion to the sinus rhythm. It was effective in 2 patients. In the other 2, digoxin was added to therapy for tachycardia control. Amiodarone alone or in combination with digoxin effectively controlled reentrant SVT in all patients. This combined treatment caused ventricular rate control in patient with atrial flutter, and conversion to the stable sinus rhythm was achieved at approximately 8 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous amiodarone alone or in combination with digoxin was found to be safe and effective in controlling refractory and life-threatening SVT in neonates and small infants.
Dilber
Embiya
E
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey. embiyabilber@yahoo.com
Mutlu
Mehmet
M
Dilber
Beril
B
Aslan
Yakup
Y
Gedik
Yusuf
Y
Celiker
Alpay
A
D000241:Adenosine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012207:Rhabdomyoma / Q000150:complications; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000150:complications; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D004077:Digoxin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D000241:Adenosine; D000638:Amiodarone