Antiarrhythmic drugs for maintaining of sinus rhythm

Non-pharmacological methods of maintaining sinus rhythm.

Sinus Rhythm To the Editor: The Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) investigators recently presented their analysis of the relationship between cardiac rhythm, treatment, and survival from the original AFFIRM study.1 The investigators conclude that the use of warfarin and the presence of sinus rhythm were important determinants of survival. The use of antia...

Approaches to restoring and maintaining normal sinus rhythm.

The primary strategies in managing patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are rate control, termination of the arrhythmia, and prevention of recurrences and thromboembolic events. Although there have been great advances in nonpharmacologic therapies to achieve these aims, drug therapy remains firstline treatment for patients with AF. This review briefly profiles the drugs most commonly used for...

Can atrial flutter be converted to sinus rhythm by antiarrhythmic drugs or should atrial pacing be performed?

Antiarrhythmic drugs.

Most patients with cardiac arrhythmias require treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs, although recent advances in surgical and electrical techniques are promising. The ideal antiarrhythmic compound should have: (1) A wide range of therapeutic activity in both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. (2) Parenteral and oral formulations to permit simple dosage schedules. (3) Pharmacokinetic properties ...

Antiarrhythmic Drugs

Cardiac arrhythmias result from alterations in the orderly sequence of depolarization followed by repolarization in the heart. Cardiac arrhythmias may result in alterations in heart rate or rhythm and arise from alterations in impulse generation or conduction. The clinical implications of disordered cardiac activation range from asymptomatic palpitations to lethal arrhythmia. Pharmacological ma...