Key result
Adenosine terminated 94% of supraventricular tachycardia episodes compared to 81% for verapamil, though early recurrence and transient side effects were common.
Why the study?
Does adenosine improve the immediate restoration of sinus rhythm compared to verapamil in patients with supraventricular tachycardia?
Observational (n=43)
Does adenosine improve the immediate restoration of sinus rhythm compared to verapamil in patients with supraventricular tachycardia?
Adenosine has a higher success rate and is safer than verapamil for the immediate termination of supraventricular tachycardia, despite a higher rate of early recurrence.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Adenosine may terminate more SVT episodes than verapamil; leaves open need for randomized confirmation before practice change.
A comparison of verapamil with adenosine for the immediate treatment of supraventricular tachycardia was made from a retrospective review of 164 spontaneous episodes of paroxysmal tachycardia in 43 patients. Verapamil administered to 33 patients restored sinus rhythm in 91 of 112 episodes (81 per cent). Hypotension occurred in 9 per cent of episodes. Adenosine terminated 94 per cent of episodes of supraventricular tachycardia in 25 patients. The arrhythmia recurred shortly after adenosine restored sinus rhythm in 20 episodes. Transient side effects were common. Fifteen patients were treated with both agents. Adenosine was successful in all, but verapamil failed to restore sinus rhythm at least once in seven of the 15 patients. Early recurrence of tachycardia occurred in five of these after adenosine, but in only one after verapamil. Verapamil and adenosine are both effective in the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia; adenosine has the higher success rate and is safer, but transient symptoms are common and arrhythmias may recur.
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Rankin et al. (1990) conducted an observational in Supraventricular tachycardia (n=43). Adenosine vs. Verapamil was evaluated on Restoration of sinus rhythm. Adenosine terminated 94% of supraventricular tachycardia episodes compared to 81% for verapamil, though early recurrence and transient side effects were common.
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