evidence for post-resuscitation drips

[zzyzx]

I'm looking for articles on the use of post-resuscitation drips (i.e., amiodarone, lidocaine) after a patient has been cardioverted out of V tach. I know this is a pretty universal practice, but just wondering if it's evidence based.

[Arizonaffcep]

I'm assuming that this is an electrical cardioversion, and not a chemical?

[kateyboyer]

I have used lidocaine drip. The basis of the drip is from the action of the drug. The patient was unresponsive on arrival with bigeminal PVC and runs of V-Tach, but after the lidocaine push began slowly responding and decreasing frequency of PVCs. I hung a drip and had a normal sinus with occassional PVCs in a completely alert patient by the time I transferred care. I hope that helps.

[ERDoc]

I think zz was looking for evidence based info, not anecdotal stories. Check out Part 7.2 of the 2005 guidelines. There is some good info in there as well as additional references. Here is a link.