Favorable effects of flecainide in transvenous internal cardioversion of atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of intravenous (IV) flecainide on defibrillation energy requirements in patients treated w ith low-energy internal atrial cardioversion. BACKGROUND Internal cardioversion of atrial fibrillation is becoming a more widely accepted therapy for acute episode termination and for implantable atrial defibrillators. METHODS Twenty-four patients with atrial fibrillation (19 persistent, 5 par oxysmal) underwent elective transvenous cardioversion according to a step-u p protocol. After successful conversion in a drug-free stale, atrial fibril lation was induced by atrial pacing; IV flecainide (2 mg/kg) was administer ed and a second threshold was determined. In patients in whom cardioversion in a drug-free state failed notwithstanding a 400- to 550-V shock, a thres hold determination was attempted after flecainide. RESULTS Chronic persistent atrial fibrillation was converted in 13/19 (68%) patients at baseline and in 16/19 (84%) patients after flecainide. Paroxys mal atrial fibrillation was successfully cardioverted in all the patients. A favorable effect of flecainide was observed either in chronic persistent atrial fibrillation (13 patients) or in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (5 p atients) with significant reductions in energy requirements for effective d efibrillation (persistent atrial fibrillation: 4.42 +/- 1.37 to 3.50 +/- 1. 51 J, p < 0.005; paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: 1.68 +/- 0.29 to 0.84 +/- 0.26 J, p < 0.01). In 14 patients not requiring sedation, the favorable eff ects of flecainide on defibrillation threshold resulted in a significant re duction in the scores of shock-induced discomfort (3.71 +/- 0.83 vs. 4.29 /- 0.61, p < 0.005). No ventricular proarrhythmia was observed for any shoc k. CONCLUSIONS Intravenous flecainide reduces atrial defibrillation threshold in patients treated with low-energy internal atrial cardioversion. This red uction in threshold results in lower shock-induced discomfort. Additionally , flecainide may increase the procedure success rate in patients with chron ic persistent atrial-fibrillation. (C) 1999 by the American College of Card iology.