Key result
Intravenous verapamil promptly restored stable sinus rhythm without side effects in 76% of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia episodes in children.
Why the study?
Does intravenous verapamil restore stable sinus rhythm in children with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia?
Does intravenous verapamil restore stable sinus rhythm in children with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia?
Intravenous verapamil is effective for terminating PSVT in children, particularly in idiopathic cases, but carries a risk of severe cardiovascular side effects if recommended doses are exceeded.
May support verapamil for pediatric PSVT termination; case-report data leave open need for controlled safety trials.
Fifty‐four spontaneous episodes of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) in 23 patients, varying in age from one day to fourteen years, were treated with intravenous verapamil according to a specific protocol. Stable sinus rhythm was obtained promptly with no side effects in 76% of episodes. There was no response in 9%; an unstable rhythm in 7.5%; and severe side effects (hypotension, sinus bradycardia and cardio‐respiratory arrest) in 7.5%. All severe side effects were associated with larger than recommended doses of verapamil. Intravenous verapamil reverted 100% of all episodes of idiopathic PSVT in eight patients; 83% of episodes in five patients with congenital heart disease; and only 57% of episodes in nine patients with Wolff‐Parkinson‐White syndrome. It was ineffective in one neonate who had had intra‐uterine SVT.
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Leitner et al. (1983) studied paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) (n=23). Intravenous verapamil was evaluated on Stable sinus rhythm obtained promptly with no side effects. Intravenous verapamil promptly restored stable sinus rhythm without side effects in 76% of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia episodes in children.