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[Life-threatening ventricular tachycardia during flecainide treatment for symptomatic atrial fibrillation in a patient with a structural cardiac disorder].

Year: 2006

Type: article

Abstract: A 37-year-old man with symptomatic acute atrial fibrillation and a low-voltage electrocardiogram was treated with flecainide intravenously. Instead of conversion to sinus rhythm, he developed a wide-complex tachycardia suggestive of ventricular tachycardia. The patient recovered following electric cardioversion. First-choice therapy for symptomatic atrial fibrillation of recent onset (duration < 48 hours) is chemical conversion with a class IC antiarrhythmic drug (e.g. flecainide, propafenone). However, in patients with structural heart disorders, these drugs may induce ventricular tachycardia. A low-voltage electrocardiogram is suggestive of left ventricular damage. For these patients, electric cardioversion is a better alternative.

Source: PubMed

Authors: M Rienstra, A C P Wiesfeld, D J van Veldhuisen, I C van Gelder

Institution: University Medical Center Groningen

Language: Dutch

Topic: Atrial Fibrillation Management and Outcomes

Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W16767194

FWCI: 0.227

Cites: 20

Cited by: 2

Related to: 10