Korean J Crit Care Med.  1997 Jun;12(1):81-84.

Combination Therapy of Verapamil and Esmolol for the Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia Recurred during the Central Venous Catheterization: A case report

• Kwon EJ
• Kong MH
• Lim SH
• Choi JH
• Lee MK
• Yoon SM
• Choi YS

Abstract

Combination therapy of beta-blocker and a calcium channel blocker is not recommened because their additive effect on the myocardium and the atrioventricular node may precipitate heart block in susceptible patients. We experienced a 68 years old female patient who had paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia that was treated with verapamil and esmolol. She had been taking verapamil for 2 years because of her paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. She was planned for left ureteronephrectomy due to left ureteral tumor. After epidural catheterization for the postoperative pain control, she was anesthetized with isoflurane and vecuronium. During central venous catheterization, SVT (H.R. from 98 beats per minute to 190 BPM) was suddenly developed with hypotension (B.P. from 120/65 mmHg to 75/42 mmHg) when guide wire was introduced. We treated her with combination therapy of verapamil 7.5 mg and esmolol 18 mg under the monitoring of blood pressure, electrocardiogram, end-tidal CO2 tension, central venous pressure and pulse oximeter. After 20 minutes of vigorous treatment, her heart rate and blood pressure returned to a normal range.

Keyword

Heart; PSVT; verapamil; Sympathetic nervous system; beta-adrenergic antagonist

MeSH Terms

Aged
Atrioventricular Node
Blood Pressure
Calcium Channels
Catheterization
Catheterization, Central Venous*
Catheters
Central Venous Catheters*
Central Venous Pressure
Electrocardiography
Female
Heart
Heart Block
Heart Rate
Humans
Hypotension
Isoflurane
Myocardium
Pain, Postoperative
Reference Values
Sympathetic Nervous System
Tachycardia, Supraventricular*
Ureter
Vecuronium Bromide
Verapamil*
Calcium Channels
Isoflurane
Vecuronium Bromide
Verapamil