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Myth: Intravenous amiodarone is safe in patients with atrial fibrillation and Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome in the emergency department

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Marius A. Tijunelis  and
Mel E. Herbert
Marius A. Tijunelis
Affiliation:
Clinical Emergency Medicine, KECK USC School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, LAC+USC Medical Center, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, Calif.
Mel E. Herbert*
Affiliation:
Clinical Emergency Medicine, KECK USC School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, LAC+USC Medical Center, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, Calif.
*
[email protected]

Abstract

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Wolff–Parkinson–White (WPW) syndrome with atrial fibrillation (AF) is a potentially life-threatening problem requiring rapid conversion to sinus rhythm. The most recent American Heart Association guidelines for the treatment of patients with WPW, published in conjunction with the 2000 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) guidelines, suggests that intravenous amiodarone is a first-line therapy for AF–WPW; however the evidence suggests this is a potentially dangerous myth.

Keywords

amiodaronecardiac arrestarrythmiaWolff–Parkinson–White syndromeWPW
Type
Medical Mythology • Mythes médicaux
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 7 , Issue 4 , July 2005 , pp. 262 - 265
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2005

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