70033
document
Esmolol versus verapamil in the acute treatment of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter . The effects of esmolol , an ultrashort-acting beta blocker , and verapamil were compared in controlling ventricular response in 45 patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter , in a randomized , parallel , open-label study . Patients with either new onset ( less than 48 hours , n = 31 ) or old onset ( greater than 48 hours , n = 14 ) of atrial fibrillation or flutter with rapid ventricular rate were stratified to receive esmolol ( n = 21 ) or verapamil ( n = 24 ) . Drug efficacy was measured by ventricular rate reduction and conversion to sinus rhythm . The heart rate declined with esmolol from 139 to 100 beats/min ( p less than 0.001 ) and with verapamil from 142 to 97 beats/min ( p less than 0.001 ) . Fifty percent of esmolol-treated patients with new onset of arrhythmias converted to sinus rhythm , whereas only 12 % of those who received verapamil converted ( p less than 0.03 ) . Mild hypotension was observed in both treatment groups . Esmolol compares favorably with verapamil with respect to both efficacy and safety in acutely decreasing ventricular response during atrial fibrillation or flutter . Moreover , conversion to sinus rhythm is significantly more likely with esmolol .
70034
Intervention_Pharmacological
Esmolol
70035
Intervention_Pharmacological
verapamil
70036
Intervention_Pharmacological
esmolol
70037
Intervention_Pharmacological
verapamil
70038
Intervention_Pharmacological
esmolol
70039
Intervention_Pharmacological
verapamil
70040
Intervention_Pharmacological
esmolol
70041
Intervention_Pharmacological
verapamil
70042
Intervention_Pharmacological
esmolol-treated
70043
Intervention_Pharmacological
verapamil
70044
Intervention_Pharmacological
Esmolol
70045
Intervention_Pharmacological
verapamil
70046
Intervention_Pharmacological
esmolol
70047
Outcome_Physical
ventricular response
70048
Outcome_Other
Drug efficacy
70049
Outcome_Physical
ventricular rate reduction
70050
Outcome_Physical
conversion to sinus rhythm .
70051
Outcome_Physical
heart rate
70052
Outcome_Physical
converted to sinus rhythm
70053
Outcome_Physical
Mild hypotension
70054
Outcome_Other
efficacy and safety
70055
Outcome_Physical
acutely decreasing ventricular response
70056
Outcome_Physical
conversion to sinus rhythm
70057
Participant_Condition
atrial fibrillation
70058
Participant_Sample-size
45
70059
Participant_Sample-size
31
70060
Participant_Sample-size
14