Effect of verapamil on retrograde ventriculo-atrial conduction in children

Abstract

The effects of verapamil, a slow channel blocker and a potent antiarrhythmic drug, on retrograde V-A conduction were investigated following diagnostic cardiac catheterization in 12 children premedicated with lytic cocktail. Surface EKG, intra-atrial and His bundle electrograms, as well as right ventricular pacing with use of extra stimulus technique were obtained before and after a single intravenous dose of verapamil (0.15 mg/Kg, max 5 mg). Verapamil prolonged the AH interval in 9/12 and abolished or prolonged the retrograde V-A conduction whenever present (abolition in 5/12 and prolongation in 1/12). The duration of retrograde V-A conduction exceeded the antegrade conduction time in all. It is concluded that verapamil abolishes retrograde V-A conduction whenever present and this phenomenon may further explain the antiarrhythmic effects of the drug on retrograde conduction dependent (reentrant) arrhythmias.