We found that the size of the left atrium , presence of cardiovascular disease , and protocol s of amiodarone administration did not influence the magnitude of effect .
Serious adverse events were infrequent .
Amiodarone is effective for converting AF to sinus rhythm in a wide range of patients .
BACKGROUND Although clinicians sometimes choose amiodarone to convert atrial fibrillation ( AF ) to sinus rhythm , no current and comprehensive systematic review has summarized its effectiveness .
OBJECTIVE To review the effectiveness of amiodarone in converting AF to sinus rhythm over a 4-week period .
Intravenous Amiodarone Decreases the Duration of Atrial Fibrillation Associated with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Abstract Purpose : Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) is a fairly common complication of acute myocardial infa rct ion ( AMI ) . The aim of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of intravenous amiodarone in converting AF associated with AMI . Methods : Seventy patients with AMI complicated with AF were prospect ively divided into 3 groups : a ) In group D ( n = 26 ) , 0.75 mg digoxin was administered intravenously and thereafter as needed , b ) In group AM ( n = 16 ) , 300 mg of amiodarone was infused over 2 hours followed by 44 mg/hour for up to 60 hours or until sinus rhythm was restored , c ) In group D + AM ( n = 28 ) , 0.75 mg of digoxin was administered ( as in group D ) for the initial 2 hours followed by amiodarone infusion as in group AM . Results : Sinus rhythm was restored : a ) by the end of the 2nd hour in 9/26 patients from group D , 4/16 from group AM , and 10/28 from group D + AM ( p = NS ) , b ) by the end of the 96th hour , in 18/26 patients from group D , and in all patients from group AM and groupd D + AM . The corresponding duration of AF was 51 ± 34 hours , 17 ± 15 hours and 9 ± 13 hours , respectively ( F = 15.4 , p < 0.001 ) . AF recurred in 9/26 , 5/16 and 1/28 patients of groups D , AM and D + AM , respectively ( p = 0.026 ) . The required dosage of amiodarone  was lower in the D + AM group than in the AM group ( 603 ± 563 mg versus 1058 ± 680 mg , p = 0.037 ) . Conclusions : Intravenous amiodarone was well tolerated in patients with AMI complicated by AF and was effective in decreasing the duration of AF . However , the combination of amiodarone and digoxin was superior to amiodarone alone in restoring sinus rhythm faster , maintaining sinus rhythm longer , and allowing the use of a lower cumulative amount of amiodarone
We found that the size of the left atrium , presence of cardiovascular disease , and protocol s of amiodarone administration did not influence the magnitude of effect .
Serious adverse events were infrequent .
Amiodarone is effective for converting AF to sinus rhythm in a wide range of patients .
BACKGROUND Although clinicians sometimes choose amiodarone to convert atrial fibrillation ( AF ) to sinus rhythm , no current and comprehensive systematic review has summarized its effectiveness .
OBJECTIVE To review the effectiveness of amiodarone in converting AF to sinus rhythm over a 4-week period .