Is pretreatment with ibutilide useful for atrial fibrillation cardioversion when combined with biphasic shock?

Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine
Gianfranco MazzoccaLucia Becuzzi

Abstract

Cardioversion of atrial fibrillation by means of a monophasic transthoracic shock is facilitated by pretreatment with ibutilide. The aim of this study was to randomly and prospectively compare the energy requirements of transthoracic biphasic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation with and without ibutilide pretreatment. Fifty patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups: immediate cardioversion with biphasic shock (group 1) or ibutilide pretreatment followed by cardioversion with biphasic shock (group 2). In group 2, ibutilide was administered intravenously in 10 min at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg. A pause of 10 min was observed before the patients underwent cardioversion. All patients of both groups were successfully cardioverted (100%). Energy and number of shocks were significantly lower in group 2 than in group 1 (P< 0.02). Eleven of 25 patients (44%) in group 1 and 15 of 23 patients (65%) in group 2 were cardioverted at the first attempt with 50 J. The number of patients cardioverted at the first attempt with 50 J was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (P = 0.018). Although not essential for a successful outcome, pretreatment with ibutilide can lower energy requirements in transthoracic biphasic cardioversion.

References

Mar 1, 1984·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·R E KerberJ Melton
Jun 17, 1999·The New England Journal of Medicine·H OralF Morady

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 21, 2012·Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia·Robert H ThieleElliott Bennett-Guerrero
Nov 2, 2011·Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America·Laura J Bontempo, Eric Goralnick
Aug 1, 2015·Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America·Eric Goralnick, Laura J Bontempo
Oct 28, 2008·The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing·Michael C GiudiciS Serge Barold

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Atrial Filbrillation

Atrial fibrillation refers to the abnormal heart rhythm characterized by rapid and irregular beating of the atria. Here is the latest research.

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly due to stroke and thromboembolism. Here is the latest research.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmias are abnormalities in heart rhythms, which can be either too fast or too slow. They can result from abnormalities of the initiation of an impulse or impulse conduction or a combination of both. Here is the latest research on arrhythmias.