Esmolol in the treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Infusion of esmolol, an ultra short acting beta-blocker was used in the acute management of 48 patients with supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Following acute control of the heart rate, patients received maintenance of esmolol infusion for 6 h when they were transferred to alternate oral antiarrhythmic agents. Prompt control of heart rate (mean +/- SD, 15 +/- 8.8 mins) was achieved in 85% of patients with esmolol at a dose rate of 80 +/- 59 micrograms/kg/min. Ninety percent of these subjects were successfully transferred to alternate oral therapy. Five subjects experienced transient side effects. Esmolol was highly effective and particularly suitable for the acute management of patients with supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.