1. Transient effect of intravenous potassium on A-V conduction and ventricular ectopic beats: clinical study
- Author
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Charles Fisch, Edward F. Steinmetz, and Robert B. Chevalier
- Subjects
business.industry ,Potassium ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Ventricular Premature Complexes ,Clinical study ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,Potassium phosphate ,Heart Rate ,Anesthesia ,Ventricular Fibrillation ,cardiovascular system ,Extracellular ,A v conduction ,Medicine ,Humans ,Ventricular Ectopic Beats ,Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine ,business ,Depression (differential diagnoses) ,Intravenous potassium - Abstract
1. 1. Fourteen infusions of potassium phosphate to 12 digitalized individuals with persistent ventricular ectopic rhythms resulted in a transient depression of the ectopic focus in 12 experiments. In one there was no effect and in another the ventricular premature beats increased in number during the infusion. In 4 additional patients the ventricular ectopic beats first appeared during or after the infusion. 2. 2. Depression of A-V conduction with resultant slowing of the ventricular rate was observed during 11 of the 18 infusions. 3. 3. The parallel depression of A-V conduction and the ectopic ventricular foci suggests that the effect of potassium is one of myocardial depression. Furthermore, the short-lived beneficial effect of potassium suggests that the mechanism may be due to a transient elevation of the extracellular level of the cation.
- Published
- 1960