Management of Patients with Supra ventricular Tachycardia Using Amiodarone Therapy

Amiodarone has emerged as a potent agent for the management of patietits with reentrant supra ventricular tachycardias, atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, and dysrhythmias associated with the preexcitation syndromes. Efficacy is reported betiveen 50 and 90% dependent upon the nature of the primary rhythm disturbance and population studied. Electrophysiological studies have not in general been helpful in predicting outcome with this agent. The drug may produce a wide array of toxic side effects, requiring cessation of therapy in less than 10% of patients. Our approach to the use of this agent relegates it to a second or third line of therapy in view of its complex pharmacokinetics and wide array of side effects.