[Acute treatment of stable hemodynamically tolerable ventricular tachycardia]

Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther. 2005 Apr;40(4):207-12. doi: 10.1055/s-2004-826217.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia is a potentially life-threatening ventricular tachycardia. The arrhythmia can be treated with antiarrhythmic drugs, when the patient is hemodynamically stable. Class IC antiarrhythmic drugs like flecainide and propafenon or ajmaline (class IA/IC) are very effective. The use of lidocaine is obsolete. Sotalol is also effective, however, caution is advised because of its significant beta-sympatholytic properties. Amiodaron is frequently used, although it has never been studied in the setting of stable ventricular tachycardia. Earlier studies have demonstrated that it is effective in the treatment of recurrent, hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia. When a particular drug does not terminate tachycardia, further drugs should not be given. Electrical cardioversion is preferred.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Electric Countershock
  • Hemodynamics / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / drug therapy
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / physiopathology*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / therapy*

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents