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Successful use of an intravenous infusion of flecainide and amiodarone for a refractory combination of postoperative junctional and ectopic tachycardias

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 July 2005

Nikolaus A. Haas ,
Scott Fox  and
Jonathan R. Skinner
Nikolaus A. Haas
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Intensive Care, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
Scott Fox
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Intensive Care, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
Jonathan R. Skinner
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Starship and Green Lane Hospitals, Auckland, New Zealand
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Abstract

After repair of an atrioventricular septal defect with common atrioventricular junction in a 2-month-old girl, rapid atrial tachycardia, in combination with junctional ectopic tachycardia, led to severe postoperative cardiovascular compromise. Intercurrent runs of ectopic atrial tachycardia made atrial pacing impossible, despite high doses of intravenous amiodarone. Following the addition of flecainide to the infusion, we were able to control the rhythm, and when combined with atrial pacing, this led to an immediate haemodynamic improvement. Treatment of refractory supraventricular tachycardias with amiodarone combined with flecainide can be very effective in the setting of postoperative cardiac intensive care.

Keywords

Amiodaroneflecainidepostoperative junctional ectopic tachycardiaectopic atrial tachycardiaintra-atrial re-entry tachycardia
Type
Brief Report
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 15 , Issue 4 , August 2005 , pp. 427 - 430
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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