Effect of acute amiodarone loading on energy requirements for biphasic ventricular defibrillation

We examined the immediate effects of in-hospital oral amiodarone loading on the biphasic defibrillation threshold of patients with implantable cardiov erter-defibrillators. We found that short-term amiodarone loading could res ult in higher defibrillation thresholds, in some instances unacceptably hig h, suggesting that in-hospital testing should be performed before dischargi ng patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators who receive amioda rone.