[Value of flecainide in supraventricular arrhythmias]

Flecainide acetate (Flecaine) is a new antiarrhythmic which has recently become available; its efficacity in treatment of ventricular rhythm disorders has been amply demonstrated. In this study we have evaluated its efficacity per os in treatment of auricular rhythm disorders refractory to the usual therapies, and its effects on the accessory routes of atrioventricular conduction. The results are very promising and better than those obtained with amiodarone in auricular disorders. They show that flecainide is a drug of importance among therapeutic agents used in treatment of auricular arrhythmia, and its action on Kent's bundle makes it a drug of choice in management of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, especially as it seems equally efficacious in its action on the accessory routes with a short refractory period. Most of our patients did not present organic cardiopathy and the side-effects were generally benign. A non-negligible number of cases of paroxysmal hypertension were noted, in disagreement with literature data, and this point needs to be clarified by further study.