Rate of conversion and recurrence after sotalol treatment in patients with direct current-refractory atrial fibrillation

Clinical Cardiology
Anna K NergårdhMats Frick

Abstract

A number of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) will not have sinus rhythm (SR) restored by direct current (DC) cardioversion. In patients with DC-refractory AF, oral pretreatment with sotalol increases the success rate at DC cardioversion. Consecutive patients with persistent AF, refractory at a first DC cardioversion, were prospectively included. A comparative group of patients with AF not refractory at DC cardioversion was studied. Oral sotalol treatment was started after unsuccessful DC cardioversion and given at least 7 days before renewed cardioversion. Four weeks after cardioversion, an electrocardiogram was performed. In all, 53 patients were enrolled in the study. Forty-three (81%) in the sotalol group regained sinus rhythm (SR): 10 (19%) of these converted pharmacologically and 33 (62%) after a second DC cardioversion; SR was never restored in 10 patients (19%). After 4 weeks, SR was maintained in 29 patients (67%). The comparative group included 132 patients and differed significantly from the DC-refractory patients only with regard to weight. After 4 weeks, SR was maintained by 50 patients (37%) in this group. In patients with persistent AF refractory to DC cardioversion, oral pretreatment with sotalol...Continue Reading

References

Sep 1, 1989·Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE·M Wang, P Dorian
Jan 1, 1989·The American Journal of Cardiology·I C Van GelderK I Lie
Jan 15, 1989·The American Journal of Cardiology·H C DittrichP H Nicod
Apr 29, 1982·The New England Journal of Medicine·W B KannelP M McNamara
Aug 12, 1993·The American Journal of Cardiology·P Dorian, D Newman
Feb 11, 1999·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·G BorianiB Magnani
Feb 28, 2001·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·V TaramascoS Lévy

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 8, 2009·Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE·James A Reiffel

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

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.

Atrial Filbrillation

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