[Electrophysiologic effect of intravenous propafenone in supraventricular tachycardia]

The electrophysiologic effects of intravenous propafenone were studied in twenty six patients with supraventricular tachycardias. Ten patients (38%) with intranodal reentrance tachycardia common type, and sixteen patients (62%) atrioventricular orthodromic reentrance tachycardia. Propafenone (2 mg/kg intravenously) given over ten minutes period caused termination of the intranodal reentrance tachycardia in 60% of the cases and 50% to the patients with atrioventricular reentrance tachycardia. The antiarrhythmic effects observed are related to the slowing of the conduction velocity and to the prolongation of the refractoriness in the AV node and accessory pathways preventing the reentrance mechanism. The reinduction of the tachycardia was possible in 46% of the patients. This effects was more significative in the group with accessory pathways (50%), and 40% of the patients with intranodal reentrance. The supraventricular tachycardia was inducible by programmed electrical stimulation in 46% of the patients. None of the patients developed side effects to the administration of the propafenone.