Faculty Collaboration Database

Effectiveness of VF induction with DC fibber versus conventional induction methods in patients on chronic amiodarone therapy. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2013 Nov;38(2):137-41

Date

09/10/2013

Pubmed ID

24013703

DOI

10.1007/s10840-013-9819-1

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84888024605 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   3 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Amiodarone therapy, especially chronic, can result in difficult ventricular fibrillation (VF) inductions during implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) testing. The efficacy of various VF induction methods on patients treated with amiodarone has not been well described. This prospective analysis evaluated the impact of direct current (DC) fibber, burst fibber, and synchronized T-wave shock VF induction methods.

METHODS: Data were collected from one study and two enrolling centers totaling 14 ICD patients (92.9 % male, age 64.3 years (range 23.6-81.2)). A minimum of two successful VF inductions from each patient were required to be included in the study analysis. Each VF induction method was attempted in each patient. Non-sustained VF resulting in an aborted shock was considered an induction failure. All 14 patients were on chronic amiodarone therapy.

RESULTS: From a total of 42 attempted inductions, 25 (59.5 %) were successful at inducing VF. The success rates of effective induction of VF during the first attempt using DC, burst, and Shock-on-T are 100, 50, and 28.6 %, respectively. DC fibber had significantly higher VF induction rates than Shock-on-T (p = 0.004) or burst fibber (p = 0.02). There was no difference between Shock-on-T and burst fibber (p = 0.45).

CONCLUSION: The success rate of VF induction using DC fibber method is significantly higher than either Shock-on-T or burst fibber induction methods for patients on chronic amiodarone therapy. This may facilitate defibrillation threshold testing in such patients.

Author List

Rubenstein JC, Gupta MS, Kim MH

Author

Jason C. Rubenstein MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Amiodarone
Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
Chronic Disease
Defibrillators, Implantable
Electrocardiography
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Treatment Outcome
United States
Ventricular Fibrillation
Young Adult