Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate Reduces the Need for Antiarrhythmics during Acute-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Emergency and Critical Care

Abstract

Several studies have suggested the potential role of Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO₄) for the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) but, in clinical practice, the use of magnesium is not standardized although it is largely used for the treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias. Objectives. We evaluated the role of MgSO₄ infusion in association with flecainide in cardioversion of patients presenting in ED with symptomatic AF started less than 48 h before. We retrospectively searched for all patients presented in ED from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019 requiring pharmacological cardioversion with flecainide 2 mg/kg. Ninety-seven patients met these criteria, 46 received the administration of intravenous MgSO₄ 2 gr (Group A), and 51 did not (Group B). Among the 97 patients, the overall cardioversion rate was 85.6%, 91.3% in Group A and 80.4% in Group B. In 27 patients out of 97, the Flecainide was not administered because of spontaneous restoration of sinus rhythm of 9 pts (Group B) and 18 pts (Group A). We also found a statistical significance in the HR at the time of cardioversion between Group A (77.8 ± 19.1 bpm) and Group B (87 ± 21.7 bpm). No complications emerged. The association between MgSO₄ and Flecainide has not yielded statistically significant results. However, in consideration of its high safety profile, MgSO₄ administration may play a role in ED cardioversion of acute onset AF, reducing the need for antiarrhythmic medications and electrical cardioversion procedures, relieving symptoms reducing heart rate, and reducing the length of stay in the ED.

Keywords: Flecainide; atrial fibrillation; magnesium sulfate; rate control; rhythm control.

Figure 1

Heart Rate Reduction.