AMIODARONE AS TREATMENT FOR ATRIAL TACHYCARDIAS AFTER SURGERY

Atrial flutter, including all types of postoperative atrial tachycardi as, is the one with the highest risk of late sudden death. Thus, late postoperative atrial tachycardias must be suppressed and all patients should be permanently treated after a first episode of atrial flutter. Daily oral doses of 200-250 mg/m(2) amiodarone were found to be highl y effective and well tolerated in young patients. However, in older pa tients and after long-term therapy, ifs use is restricted by adverse s ide-effects. In these cases, association of lower doses of antiarrhyth mic agents, including amiodarone, may be effective and well tolerated. The use of other therapeutic options such as radiofrequency ablation should also be considered in older patients having drug-refractory pos toperative atrial flutter.