Korean Circ J.  2003 Oct;33(10):933-935. 10.4070/kcj.2003.33.10.933.

Atrial Fibrillation with Ventricular Pre-excitation after Intravenous Adenosine as a Treatment of Supraventricular Tachycardia

• Shim JK
• Lee DI

• KMID: 1938809
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2003.33.10.933

Abstract

Adenosine is well known as a safe and effective drug for the termination of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), and is also widely used for the termination of both narrow and wide QRS-complex tachycardia of unknown origin in the setting of hemodynamic stability. However, due to a shortening of atrial refractoriness, adenosine can facilitate the induction of atrial fibrillation. A life threatening tachycardia may result from a potential rapid conduction of the atrial fibrillation over an accessory pathway. A case of patient, where the intravenous administration of adenosine, during regular, narrow QRS tachycardia, was followed by atrial fibrillation with rapid conduction over a manifest accessory pathway, is reported.

Keyword

Adenosine; Atrial fibrillation; WPW syndrome

MeSH Terms

Adenosine*
Administration, Intravenous
Atrial Fibrillation*
Hemodynamics
Humans
Tachycardia
Tachycardia, Supraventricular*
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
Adenosine