Comparison between Antecubital Vein and External Jugular Vein Effectiveness as Routes of Administration of Adenosine in Patients Referred to a Hospital in Tehran

Ali Mohammadshahi¹, Ali Omraninava¹*, Amir Masoud Hashemian² and Mohammad Mehdi Forouzanfar³

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ²Department of Emergency Medicine, Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. ³Department of Emergency Medicine , Shohadaye Tajrish Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT: In patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), adenosine is administered through a peripheral vein by which the initial dose of 6mg of adenosine is effective in up to only 58% patients and many need a second dose of 12 mg. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of antecubital vein with external jugular vein as routes of administration of adenosine. We conducted this randomized controlled trial at the Emergency Department of a university hospital, Tehran, Iran between 2009 and 2012. Forty-sixPatients were randomized to receive adenosinefrom either the route of antecubital vein (n=25) or external jugular vein(n=21). In the antecubital vein group, 14 (56%) patients were treated successfully with the first dose of adenosine which was significantly lower than 20 (95%) patients in the external jugular vein group (p=0.003). we suggest that the external jugular vein route of administration of adenosine is a safe, dose saving and cost effective approach in treating patients with PSVT.

KEYWORDS: Antecubital vein; Jugular vein; Adenosie; Tehran Hospital

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