A comparison of antiarrhythmic drugs

Frequently the nurse anesthetist encounters a patient who is receiving antiarrhythmic therapy. As a practitioner, the anesthetist should be aware of the affect that a specific antiarrhythmic drug has on the patient, and the potential adverse effects that each drug may have. These patients require special consideration when planning their anesthetic care, as they have a higher potential for perioperative problems. This article describes the antiarrhythmic drug classification, and gives a brief summary of each of the drugs listed in the antiarrhythmic classification.