ADENOSINE IN THE TERMINATION OF ALBUTEROL-INDUCED SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA

Five percent of children in the United States have asthma. Status asth maticus is one of the most common conditions for which children seek c are in a pediatric emergency department. Beta2-agonists such as albute rol are the mainstay of emergency therapy for such children. We presen t a case of a 4-year-old boy who experienced supraventricular tachycar dia (SVT) following albuterol therapy. This is believed to be the firs t report of adenosine being successfully used to treat a child with al buterol-induced SVT. We also briefly review the recognition and manage ment of SVT in children and the pharmacokinetics of and indications fo r adenosine.