Antiarrhythmic drug therapy in survivors of prehospital cardiac arrest: comparison of effects on chronic ventricular arrhythmias and recurrent cardiac arrest.
Key result
Adequate plasma levels of antiarrhythmic agents were associated with protection against recurrent cardiac arrest (p<0.01), despite failing to predictably suppress ventricular ectopic depolarizations.
Why the study?
Does adequate plasma level monitoring of antiarrhythmic agents prevent recurrent cardiac arrest in survivors of prehospital cardiac arrest?
Population
16 patients who have survived prehospital cardiac arrest.
Design
Cohort
Follow-up
greater than 12 months
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
May warrant plasma level monitoring in arrest survivors; leaves open whether benefit is causal or independent of ectopy suppression.
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=16)
Structured PICO
Does adequate plasma level monitoring of antiarrhythmic agents prevent recurrent cardiac arrest in survivors of prehospital cardiac arrest?
P
Population
16 patients who have survived prehospital cardiac arrest.
I
Intervention
Dose-adjusted, plasma level-monitored membrane-active antiarrhythmic agents.
O
Outcome
Recurrent cardiac arrest and frequency of chronic ventricular ectopic depolarizations (VEDs) measured by monthly Holter monitor.hard clinical
Main Result
p-value: p=<0.01
Adequate plasma levels of antiarrhythmic agents may protect against recurrent cardiac arrest in survivors, even without predictably suppressing chronic ventricular ectopic depolarizations.
Cite This Study
Myerburg et al. (1979) conducted an observational in Survivors of prehospital cardiac arrest (n=16). Membrane-active antiarrhythmic agents vs. Subtherapeutic or unstable plasma levels was evaluated on Recurrent cardiac arrest based on plasma level stability (p=<0.01). Adequate plasma levels of antiarrhythmic agents were associated with protection against recurrent cardiac arrest (p<0.01), despite failing to predictably suppress ventricular ectopic depolarizations.