RT Journal
A1 Upshaw CB, Jr
T1 ACute pulmonary edema after overdrive for atrial flutter
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 1998
FD March 23
VO 158
IS 6
SP 679
OP 680
DO 
UL http://dx.doi.org/
AB 
Castro describes an interesting patient with chronic atrial flutter who developed florid pulmonary edema immediately after overdrive pacing and conversion to sinus rhythm. He had a history of severe mitral regurgitation and chronic congestive heart failure and was receiving many drugs, including β-adrenergic blocking agents and calcium channel blockers, that might depress ventricular function. Just before conversion, he was in a state of near shock with hypotension, rapid pulse and respirations, distended neck veins, hepatomegaly, pulmonary rales, and pedal edema. I do not know if he received any additional drug at the time of the overdrive pacing. Within 10 minutes after overdrive pacing treatment and conversion to sinus rhythm, the patient developed greater respiratory distress and more pulmonary rales. With vigorous treatment he improved. Goldbaum and associates1 described a patient with atrial flutter who developed pulmonary edema 30 minutes after an atrial pacing procedure and conversion to sinus rhythm; premedication use was diazepam, 10 mg orally.