The acute effect of ajmaline on ventricular arrhythmia after cardiac surgery

The acute effect of ajmaline was investigated in the treatment of postoperative ventricular arrhythmias. Ajmaline (Glurytmal--Giulini Pharma GMBH) was applied intravenously in 15 patients suffering from ventricular premature beats (Lown II--IV/b), tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation after open heart surgery. Ajmaline infusion produced in 40% of the cases a total suppression and in 100% a significant improvement of malignant ventricular arrhythmia. In patients with recurrent and resistant ventricular tachycardia, ajmaline proved effective even when other antiarrhythmic drugs had failed. It was shown to be effective in reducing ventricular premature contractions and recurrent ventricular tachycardia after heart surgery, without haemodynamic side effects. Because of recurrent ventricular premature beats in 11 patients after acute ajmaline administration further oral application of prajmalium bitartarate (Neo-Gilurytmal) was necessary. The maintenance of these patients on oral ajmaline treatment seemed important.