Amiodarone for the Emergency Care of Children

Abstract

Amiodarone is a class 3 antiarrhythmic agent used for a broad range of arrhythmias including adenosine-resistant supraventricular tachycardia, junctional ectopic tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia. Compared with adults, there are few data on its use in children with arrhythmias resistant to conventional therapy. National and international guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care recommend its use for a variety of arrhythmias based on case reports, cohort studies, and extrapolation from adult data. This article will review the historical development, chemical properties, metabolism, indications and contraindications, and adverse effects of amiodarone in infants and children. After completing this CME activity, the reader should be able to utilize amiodarone in the pediatric population for arrhythmias and identify complications associated with its use.

Intentional intoxication with monkshood plant leading to atrioventricular dissociation and ventricular ectopy in a 17-year-old female: a case report

“…The most used and effective therapies were flecainide and amiodarone when compared to lidocaine and cardioversion in returning the patient to normal sinus rhythm, though sporadic use of mexiletine, procainamide, and magnesium sulfate also saw a small degree of effectiveness [ 10 ]. In the pediatric population, amiodarone use is debated as there is relatively few data on the safety and efficacy in children with the potential for adverse effects to occur [ 11 ]. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and cardiopulmonary bypass may be of use in order to buy time for the body to naturally excrete the alkaloids if the patient is non-responsive to either chemical or electric cardioversion, a strategy that was successful in 4 out of 6 patients [ 10 ].…”