Introduction: Intravenous vernakalant has effectively converted acute Atrial Fibrillation (AF) to Sinus Rhythm (SR) and demonstrated efficacy superior to placebo and amiodarone. The objective of this study is compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous vernakalant and oral loading dose of propafenone for conversion of acute (AF).
Methods: A total of 40 adult patients with acute AF (less than 48 hours duration) without heart disease were enrolled. Patients received, intravenous vernakalant (n=20), or an oral loading dose of propafenone with 600 mg (n=20). Efficacy end point was the time to conversion from acute AF to SR.
Results: The mean time to conversion from AF to SR in patients who received propafenone was 166 (120-300) minutes and 9 (6-18) minutes in patients who received vernakalant (p < 0.0001). The mean hospitalization time was 416 (336.7-740.5) minutes in propafenone group and 238 (189.7-277.7) minutes in vernakalant group (p < 0.0001).
There were no serious adverse events.
Conclusions: Vernakalant demonstrated a shorter time to conversion from AF to SR than propafenone and a shorter hospitalization time. Both were safe and well tolerate.