Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Amiodarone in Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction With Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia

Objective: The efficacy and safety of large-dose intravenous amiodarone therapy for sustained ventricular tachycardia (SVT) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were observed. Method:First dose of 150 mg of amiodarone was given via intravenous injection within 10 minutes,followed by 0.5~ 1.5 mg/min infusion. If SVT was not controlled, additional loading dose of 75~150 mg was repeated intravenously every 30 minutes, but no more than 3 times in total. Intravenous amiodarone infusion was maintained 2~9 ( 4.53± 1.8) days and oral amiodarone was started simultaneously.Result:The effective rate was 47.1%(8/17cases) within first 2 hours of treatment, 64.7%(11/17cases) within first 24 hours, 82.4%(14/17cases) within first 48 hours of treatment and 88.2%(15/17 cases)of the patients within first 72 hours of treatment. The total dose within the first 24 hours was 1 020~ 3 030( 1 566±485)mg. Sinus bradycardia was found in 11.8% (2/17 cases)of patients and the heart rate recovered to normal after the dose was reduced. Hypotension ocured in 17.6% (3/17 cases) of patients and the blood pressure increased to normal after dopamine was given.Conclusion: Large-dose intravenous amiodarone therapy for sustained ventricular tachycardia (SVT) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is highly effective and quite safe. Heart rate, heart rhythm and blood pressure should be monitored during the treatment.