Adenosine Help?????

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Cardiac, Maternal-child, LDRP, NICU.

has anyone use this drug on a pt and the pt went in the cardiac arrest?? is it only used for psvt??? any suggestions would be helpful!!!! scared to use this drug!!!!:idea:

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Arrest is a possible effect....if you think about it, that's what happens when it works....the heart literally gets kicked to a standstill, and if everything goes right, it will start beating on its own in a normal rhythm. I have used it countless times since it came out, and the worst I've seen is that it doesn't work on a pt. Most of the time it does work.

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Specializes in MICU/SICU.

Yup, It's scarry. We usually hold our breath waiting for the asystole to rebound to a normal rhythm. You can use it for SVT, it will only work to convert to sinus rhythm if the person has a re-entrant SVT. It will slow down, or pause Afib long enough so that you know you are dealing with afib, then you can move to amiodarone.

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

hi,

I have pushed it several times, and yes it causes a very brief period of asystole, although usually it is not true asystole since the heart's escape mechanisms usually kick in for the period.

It is for PSVT, not to include atrial fib/flutter since it works by stopping impulses at the AV node. Some folks beleive it is a great drug to differentiate flutter and fib from other forms of PSVT; however most of the reported mishapps with Adenosine have occured when it is used innapropriatley in this way.

Remember the half life is about 5 seconds so it is gone quick, and if worse comes to worse and the patient's heart goes into a life threatening rhhythm there is always electricity, but the chances are very slim.

So relaaaaax

Sweetooth

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Specializes in Cardiac, Maternal-child, LDRP, NICU.
has anyone use this drug on a pt and the pt went in the cardiac arrest?? is it only used for psvt??? any suggestions would be helpful!!!! scared to use this drug!!!!:idea:

thank you all so much i feel so much better !!!!!! allnurses.com rocks i am so glad i joined here!

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Have used it many times. Have had a couple go into full arrest. But, for the most part when it works, it works nicely.

Remember the half life is about 30 seconds

The half-life is at or less than 10 seconds.;)

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Specializes in Critical care nursing.

It is for PSVT, not to include atrial fib/flutter since it works by stopping impulses at the AV node. Some folks beleive it is a great drug to differentiate flutter and fib from other forms of PSVT; however most of the reported mishapps with Adenosine have occured when it is used innapropriatley in this way.

Sweetooth

One of our MDs did use it to slow down the rhythum to determine what the rhythum actually was. This was the only time I have seen it used for that purpose. The patient never actually went asystole. It is always interesting to watch when they use it.

Jennifer

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Specializes in ED, Flight.
One of our MDs did use it to slow down the rhythum to determine what the rhythum actually was. This was the only time I have seen it used for that purpose. The patient never actually went asystole. It is always interesting to watch when they use it.

Jennifer

Actually, the 'diagnostic use' of Adenosine is pretty common. As a new medic many years ago that was one of the unlisted uses we were taught. I've seen docs do it a few times, as well.

There are other diagnostic uses for it, too. http://www.chestjournal.org/cgi/reprint/104/6/1860.pdf

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