A study on the efficacy and safety of intravenous amiodarone in the treatment of senile patients with congestive heart failure complicated with atrial fibrillation

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of intravenous amiodarone in the treatment of senile patients with congestive heart failure complicated with atrial fibrillation.Methods The 56 patients with this diseases were included in this study.The first bolus of amiodarone was given at 150mg and if the result was not satisfactory 15-20minutes after the bolus injection half the bolus were again given followed by sustained at the speed of 0.5-1mg/min in 24 hours.Results The average loading dose was 150-300 (170±38)mg,38 patients returned to sinus rhythms (67.9%),18 patients with continous atrial fibrillation after amiodarone infusion had ventricular rate below 100 bpm.Adverse reaction were observed in those patients (account for 10.7%).Conclusion Amiodarone is safe and effective in management of atrial fibrillation associated with congestive heart failure in senile patients.