Intravenous sotalol decreases transthoracic cardioversion energy requirement for chronic atrial fibrillation in humans: Assessment of the electrophysiological effects by biatrial basket electrodes
Journal
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Journal Volume
35
Journal Issue
6
Pages
1434-1441
Date Issued
2000
Author(s)
Abstract
Objectives. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of sotalol on the transthoracic cardioversion energy requirement for chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) and on the atrial electrograms during AF recorded by two basket electrodes. Background. The effects of sotalol infusion on transthoracic electrical cardioversion for chronic atrial fibrillation in humans have not been well investigated. Methods. We included 18 patients with persistent AF for more than three months. Atrial electrograms were recorded by two basket electrodes positioned in each atrium respectively. Transthoracic cardioversion was performed before and after sotalol 1.5 mg/kg IV infusion. Results. In the 14 patients whose AF could be terminated by cardioversion before sotalol infusion, the atrial defibrillation energy was significantly reduced after sotalol infusion (236 ± 74 jules [J] vs. 186 ± 77 J; p < 0.01). Atrial fibrillation was refractory to cardioversion in four patients at baseline and was converted to sinus rhythm by cardioversion after sotalol infusion in two of them. We further divided the patients into two groups. Group A consisted of 10 patients in whom the energy requirement was decreased by sotalol while group B consisted of eight patients in whom the energy requirement was not decreased. The mean A-A (atrial local electrogram) intervals during AF were significantly increased after sotalol infusion in both groups, but the increment of A-A interval was significantly larger in group A than it was in group B patients (36 ± 13 ms vs. 22 ± 8 ms for the right atrium; 19 ± 7 ms vs. 9 ± 7 ms for the left atrium; both p < 0.05). The spatial and temporal dispersions of A-A intervals were not significantly changed after sotalol infusion in both atria in both groups. Conclusions. Sotalol decreases the atrial defibrillation energy requirement by increasing atrial refractoriness but not by decreasing the dispersion of refractoriness. (C) 2000 by the American College of Cardiology.
Other Subjects
sotalol; adult; aged; article; cardioversion; chronic disease; clinical article; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; defibrillation; drug effect; drug infusion; electrode; energy; female; heart atrium fibrillation; heart electrophysiology; heart left atrium; heart muscle refractory period; heart right atrium; human; male; priority journal; sinus rhythm; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; Atrial Fibrillation; Combined Modality Therapy; Electric Countershock; Electrocardiography; Electrodes, Implanted; Female; Heart Atria; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Premedication; Recurrence; Sotalol
Type
journal article