The clinical effects of amiodarone on ventricular arrhythmias in patients with heart failure and large left ventricle

Objectives To observe the effects of amiodarone (intravenous and oral) on ventricular arrhythmias in patients with heart failure and large left ventricle. Methods 120 consecutive patients with organic heart disease and left ventricular end diastolic dimension 7 0 cm were studied, 64 males, 56 females, age (45 9±13 2) years. Medical history included rheumatic heart disease in 42, congenital heart disease in 18, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in 37 and ischemia cardiomyopathy in 23. All patients treated with loaded intravenous amiodarone 150～300 mg, and then pumped 0 45～1 5 mg/min, the mean dose was (956 5±144 3) mg at the first day, infusion was maintained for (3 6±2 4) days, and united oral amiodarone simultaneously Results The termination rate of ventricular tachycardia by amiodarone was 28 7%, the total success rate, defined as disappea rance of the arrhythmia, was 83 5%. During amiodarone therapy, 8 patients developed sinal bradycardia and recovered after decrease of amiodarone, transient atrio-ventricular block Ⅱ° was seen in 4 patients, Phlebitis occurred in 23 patients, 1 patient had Torsade de pointes, severe hypotension occurred in 6 patients and recovered after treatment with dopamine. The thyroid function had not been influenced in all patients.Conclusions Amiodarone can be used safely and effectively for ventricular arrhythmias in patients with heart failure and large left ventriccle.