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A complication of amiodarone infusion
Davide Chiumello1, Maria Luisa Caspani, Patrizia Andreoni
1Istituto di Anestesia e Rianimazione, Universita' di Milano, Ospedale Policlinico - IRCCS, Milan, Italy. chiumello@libero.it
Summary
A rare case of an intravascular mass, likely due to Amiodarone deposition, was observed in a patient receiving central line infusions. The mass resolved after switching to oral Amiodarone, highlighting potential radiological findings of this antiarrhythmic drug.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- A 76-year-old male developed atrial fibrillation post-abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
- Treatment involved intravenous Amiodarone via a central venous catheter.
Observation:
- A high-attenuation mediastinal mass was detected on chest X-ray after 28 days of intravenous Amiodarone.
- CT scan revealed an intravascular mass in the superior vena cava, persisting after catheter replacement.
Findings:
- The intravascular mass significantly decreased in size after transitioning to oral Amiodarone.
- The mass completely resolved within three months of oral administration.
- Amiodarone's high iodine content explains its detectability as a high-attenuation image on radiological studies.
Implications:
- Intravenous Amiodarone administration via central lines may lead to intravascular deposition.
- Radiological imaging can detect Amiodarone deposition, appearing as a high-attenuation mass.
- Switching to oral administration can lead to spontaneous resolution of these depositions.