title: Ibutilide for the Cardioversion of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation during Radiofrequency Ablation of Supraventricular Tachycardias.
abstract: Direct current electrical cardioversion (DC-ECV) is the preferred treatment for the termination of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) that occurs during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of supraventricular tachycardias (SVT). Intravenous Ibutilide may be an alternative option in this setting. Thirty-four out of 386 patients who underwent SVT-RFA presented paroxysmal AF during the procedure and were randomized into receiving ibutilide or DC-ECV. Ibutilide infusion successfully cardioverted 16 out of 17 patients (94%) within 17.37 ± 7.87  min. DC-ECV was successful in all patients (100%) within 17.29 ± 3.04  min. Efficacy and total time to cardioversion did not differ between the study groups. No adverse events were observed. RFA was successfully performed in 16 patients (94%) in the ibutilide arm and in all patients (100%) in the DC-ECV arm, p = NS. In conclusion, ibutilide is a safe and effective alternative treatment for restoring sinus rhythm in cases of paroxysmal AF complicating SVT-RFA.
authors: First Cardiology Department, AHEPA Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 546 21 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Kostas
authors: K
authors: Polymeropoulos
authors: Vassilios P
authors: VP
authors: Vassilikos
authors: Lilian
authors: L
authors: Mantziari
authors: Stelios
authors: S
authors: Paraskevaidis
authors: Theodoros D
authors: TD
authors: Karamitsos
authors: Sotirios
authors: S
authors: Mochlas
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Parcharidis
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Louridas
authors: Ioannis H
authors: IH
authors: Styliadis