Publication at First Faculty of Medicine |
2014
Abstract
Vernakalant is atrial selective antiarrhythmic drug developped for rapid intravenous cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation. Unlike propaphenone and flecainide, vernakalant can be used in patients with stable coronary artery disease, mild to moderate heart failure and in patients after recent valvular or coronary artery bypass surgery.
The highest conversion rates are systematically observed in the first 48 hours following the onset of arrhythmia. Unique ability of rapid conversion to sinus rhythm, short elimination half-life, and low occurrence of serious adverse events are promising for wider use of the drug in a routine clinical practice.