Myth: Intravenous amiodarone is safe in patients with atrial fibrillation Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in the emergency department

Abstract

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome with atrial fibrillation (AF) is a potentially life-threatening problem requiring rapid conversion to sinus rhythm. The most recent American Heart Association guidelines for the treatment of patients with WPW, published in conjunction with the 2000 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) guidelines, suggests that intravenous amiodarone is a firstline therapy for AF-WPW; however the evidence suggests this is a potentially dangerous myth. © 1998-2005 Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians.