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John S. Barrett, MD; E. Berry Hey, Jr., MD

JAMA. 1970;214(7):1323-1324.

Abstract
Two patients undergoing elective cardioversion for atrial fibrillation received diazepam anesthesia intravenously. One patient developed ventricular fibrillation prior to countershock while receiving diazepam and the other developed a short run of ventricular tachycardia following a 100 watt-second shock under diazepam anesthesia. It is thus unlikely that the use of diazepam will allow one to undertake cardioversion without being prepared to cope with all aspects of the occasional catastrophic arrhythmia.

Author Affiliations
From the Cardiology Section, Reading Hospital, West Reading, Pa.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Sixth and Spruce streets, West Reading, Pa 19602 (Dr. Barrett).

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