Clinical comparison between amiodarone and propafenone in cardioversion of atrial fibrillation

Objective To clinically compare amiodarone and propafenone in cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Methods 74 patients were selected and allocated to amiodarone group and propafenone group based on a random number table. Amidarone group(37 patients): 150 mg of amidarone was added to 20 mL of glucose, which was intravenously injected in 15 min gradually. Afterwards, 300 mg amidarone was added to 500 mL glucose, which was transfused via intravenous drip at 0.5-1 mg/min. After cardioversion, amidarone was orally administered to maintain the result. Propafenone group(37 patients): 70 mg of propafenone was injected intravenously in 15 min. For those patients who had not achieved cardioversion after the injection, they would receive intravenous drip of 140 mg of propafenone at 0.5-1.0 mg/min. After cardioversion, amidarone was orally administered to maintain the result. All patients were monitored by 24-hour electrocardiogram. Cardioversion time of atrial fibrillation was recorded and cardioversion rate of the two groups was compared. Results 27 of 37 patients(72.97%) in amidarone group were successful in cardioversion; 19 of 37 patients(51.35%) in propafenone group were successful in cardioversion; the cardioversion rate in amidarone group was higher than that in propafenone group, and the difference was statistically significant(P 0.05). Evident adverse effects were not detected in both the two groups. Conclusion Amidarone in the treatment of atrial fibrillation has a better effect than propafenone and is safe and reliable.