Life threatening ventricular dysrhythmias: intervention with bretylium tosylate

The impact of psychogenic and physical stressors has been shown to have a negative effect on cardiovascular homeostasis (Figure 2). As CRNAs, we have a responsibility to maintain the patient's equilibrium under the stress-provoking conditions of surgery. Experience in coronary care units over the last 16 years has shown that the majority of patients who develop primary ventricular fibrillation during AMI can be rapidly resuscitated by prompt defibrillation. Only in a small number of patients does ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation become recurrent or resistant to treatment. It is in this small number that bretylium has proven itself to be a life-saving treatment.