ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of high-dose amiodarone administered by continuously intravenous infusion for cardioversion of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.Methods From 2008 to 2010,109 patients suffered from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were treated with high-dose arniodarone (125 mg/h) administered by continuously intravenous infusion.Before cardioversion,patients were treated with low molecular weight heparin anticoagulant therapy,Laboratory tests on FT3,FT4,TSH,serum ions,etc,and coloured Doppler ultrasound imaging of heart,and ECG and blood pressure monitoring were carried out.Amiodarone hydrochloride injectio of 150 mg was mixed with sodium chloride 50 mL homogeneously,and then infused continuously by micro-pump in a rate of 41 mL/h until resume of sinus rhythm or infusion was kept up to 24 h.After successful cardioversion,as appropriate,the intravenous amiodarone was maintained in a rate of 0.5-1.0 mg/min for 6-12 h joined with oral amiodarone dosing,and the total dose was limited up to 3000 mg.Results A cohort of 104 (95.4％) patients had the restoration of sinus rhythm after cardioversion.The mean dose of amiodarone for cardioversion was (774.52 t 700.53) mg,and time required for cardioversion was (6.3 ± 5.55) hours.Conclusions The patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation are given high-dose amiodarone (125 mg/h) continuously intravenous infusion therapy and have high cardioversion success rate,less complications and side effects,as well as other advantages at the basic hospital.The method above has broad application prospects.