Treatment of multifocal atrial tachycardia with metoprolol
Abstract
We used metoprolol orally or iv in 25 patients with multifocal atrial tachycardia that was complicating severe cardiopulmonary illness, and we observed its effect on heart rate and rhythm, BP, and arterial blood gases. All patients showed a dramatic slowing of heart rate, averaging 54.0 +/- 4.0 beat/min (p less than .001), with only small and transient fall in BP. Seventeen (68%) patients experienced conversion to sinus rhythm, 11 immediately, and six more within 3 h. Time to response averaged 5.1 h with the oral form but was less than 10 min when the drug was given iv. The mean oral dose required was 32.5 mg, and the mean iv dose was 6.5 mg. No patient experienced clinically apparent hemodynamic or respiratory deterioration as a result of metoprolol administration. While arterial pH and PaCO2 were unaltered by metoprolol, mean PaO2 increased by 12.2 +/- 5.8 torr (p less than .05), the increase being greatest in patients with more severe gas-exchange derangement. We conclude that metoprolol is effective in the management of multifocal atrial tachycardia.
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Multifocal atrial tachycardia is not a good indication for catheter ablation, and metoprolol has been found superior to verapamil, but should be used with caution because pulmonary disease is frequent in MAT.
“Multifocal atrial tachycardia is not a good indication for catheter ablation, and metoprolol has been found superior to verapamil, but should be used with caution as pulmonary disease is frequent in MAT (Table 11).106,117”
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МУЛЬТИФОКАЛЬНАЯ ПРЕДСЕРДНАЯ ТАХИКАРДИЯ
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- Authors
- HAZARD, P. B., & BURNETT, C. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center (US)
- Venue
- Critical Care Medicine
- Published
- 1987-01
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 20-25
- ISSN
- 0090-3493 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2032958954
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 8
- FWCI
- 2.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Critical Care Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Arrhythmias and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Atrial Fibrillation Management and Outcomes
- Keywords
- multifocal atrial tachycardia, metoprolol, beta-adrenergic blockade, conversion to sinus rhythm, heart rate reduction, blood pressure, arterial blood gases, PaO2, intravenous administration, oral administration
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Oral, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Blood Pressure, Electrocardiography, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Injections, Intravenous, Male, Metoprolol, Middle Aged, Pulmonary Gas Exchange, Respiratory Insufficiency, Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial, Tachycardia, Supraventricular
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