RESUMO
The paper reports the results of a comparative study of the efficiency of antiarrhythmic drugs with different mechanisms of action and quickening electric cardiostimulation (ECS) in 640 patients with acute heart rhythm and conductivity disorders that had developed at early dates after the introduction of valvular prostheses. Beta-adrenoblockers and isoptin were shown to be effective in the control of supraventricular tachysystolic rhythm disorders, membrane-stabilizing agents are indicated in ventricular extrasystole, and ECS combined with trimecaine, in bradyarrhythmias. Arterial hypotension associated mostly with obsidan administration, and functional central nervous disturbances observed with membrane-stabilizing agents are reported as the most common side effects. Transformation of arrhythmias into a more severe condition--ventricular tachysystole, fibrillation and asystole--is possible when obsidan or ECS are used.