[Effects of lidocaine on supraventricular arrhythmias (author's transl)]

Using Lidocaine intravenously in 99 patients with atrial arrhythmias, it was observed that the drug has a regularising effect in 41 from 45 atrial arrhythmia, atrial tachycardia with block and accelerated ectopic supraventricular tachycardia, where the enhanced focal activity should be taken into account. No effect was observed in functional supraventricular tachycardia, paroxysmal atrial flutter and fibrillation and tachyarrhythmia in WPW syndrome, where the re-entry mechanism plays the major role. The effect of the drug is short lived, but may be prolonged by using the drug in perfusion or repeatedly with an intramuscular method. Lidocaine acts by depressing the enhanced atrial focal activity, and therefore may be of value in the treatment of these kinds of arrhythmias.