EMFANA
Emergency Medications for Anaesthesia Nurses Australia
** Ventricular Fibrillation & pulseless ventricular tachycardia
What is Amiodarone?
Amiodarone is an anti-arrhythmic drug. It is used to treat serious abnormal heart rhythms, especially dangerous fast rhythms coming from the ventricles. In anaesthesia and emergencies, it is commonly used during shock-refractory VF/pulseless VT cardiac arrest.
Common Adult Dose
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Must be diluted with with 5% dextrose and not with normal saline if you dilute it
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Cardiac arrest (shockable rhythmn): a dose of 300 mg after the 3rd shock. This is usually made up of two 150mg vials, or, one 300mg vial. An additional dose of 150 mg could be considered.
When is it often used?
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SHOCKABLE CARDIAC RHYTHMNS: ventricular fibrillation (VF) & pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT)
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sometimes for other serious tachyarrhythmias when directed by the clinician
Typical Volume found in ampules
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often 1 ampoule (3 mL) = 150 mg
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2 ampoules (6 mL) = 300 mg
Example of preparing amiodarone
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do not put any other drugs through same line as amiodarone
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If used during CPR, you can give it neat (not diluted) or dilute it using dextrose 0.5%
What usually happens after amiodarone administration?
Amiodarone is used to help stabilise the heart rhythm and can help stop certain dangerous fast arrhythmias. During cardiac arrest, it is used as part of the broader ALS resuscitation algorithm, not as a stand-alone treatment.
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Hypotension
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Bradycardia
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Nausea AND/OR vomiting
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Peripheral paraesthesia
