Intravenous amiodarone used alone or in combination with digoxin for life-threatening supraventricular tachyarrhythmia in neonates and small infants.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to report the efficacy of intravenous amiodarone alone or in combination with digoxin in neonates and small infants with life-threatening supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 9 neonates and small infants with life-threatening or resistant SVT who were treated with intravenous amiodarone alone or in combination with digoxin.

RESULTS

This report consists of 8 patients with reentrant SVT and 1 with atrial flutter. On admission, 7 patients had a congestive heart failure and 3 of whom had cardiovascular collapse. Intravenous rapid bolus of adenosine caused a sustained sinus rhythm in 4 patients. These patients were given digoxin initially, but recurrence of persistent tachyarrhythmia necessitated the use of intravenous amiodarone in all these patients. Amiodarone was given initially to the other 4 patients in whom adenosine caused only temporary conversion to the sinus rhythm. It was effective in 2 patients. In the other 2, digoxin was added to therapy for tachycardia control. Amiodarone alone or in combination with digoxin effectively controlled reentrant SVT in all patients. This combined treatment caused ventricular rate control in patient with atrial flutter, and conversion to the stable sinus rhythm was achieved at approximately 8 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravenous amiodarone alone or in combination with digoxin was found to be safe and effective in controlling refractory and life-threatening SVT in neonates and small infants.