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(Circulation. 1958;18:98.)
© 1958 American Heart Association, Inc.

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Effect of Potassium on Conduction and Ectopic Rhythms in Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Digitalis

CHARLES FISCH M.D.¹; J. PAUL SHIELDS M.D.¹; S. ANTHONY RIDOLFO M.D.¹; HARVEY FEIGENBAUM ¹

¹ From the Robert M. Moore Heart Clinic, Indianapolis General Hospital, and the Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Ind.

Intravenous administration of potassium to patients with atrial fibrillation treated with digitalis resulted in depression of conduction through the A-V node, appearance of complete A-V dissociation and in some abolition of ventricular ectopic beats. The presence or absence of ectopic ventricular beats as well as the degree of depression of A-V node could be controlled at will by varying the rate of infusion. Termination of infusion was paralleled by prompt reappearance of all arrhythmias present before infusion started.