Protocol Development and Initial Experience with Intravenous Sotalol Loading for Atrial Arrhythmias

Abstract

Background: 

Oral sotalol is a class III antiarrhythmic commonly used for the maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of IV sotalol loading, based primarily on modeling data for the infusion. We aimed to describe a protocol and experience with IV sotalol loading for elective treatment of adult patients with AF and/or atrial flutter (AFL).

Methods: 

We present our institutional protocol and retrospective review of initial patients treated with IV sotalol for AF/AFL at the University of Utah Hospital between September 2020 and April 2021.

Results: 

Eleven patients received IV sotalol for initial loading or dose escalation. All patients were male, aged 56-88 years (median 69). Mean QTc intervals increased from baseline (mean 384 ms) immediately after infusion of IV sotalol (mean change 42ms), but no patient required discontinuation of the medication. Six patients were discharged after one night; 4 patients were discharged after two nights; and one patient was discharged after 4 nights. Nine patients underwent electrical cardioversion prior to discharge (2 prior to load; 7 post-load on the day of discharge). There were no adverse events during the infusion or within 6 months of discharge. Persistence of therapy was 73% (8 of 11) at mean 9.9 weeks to follow-up, with no discontinuations for adverse effects.

Conclusions: 

We employed a streamlined protocol that was successfully implemented to facilitate the use of IV sotalol loading for atrial arrhythmias. Our initial experience suggests feasibility, safety and tolerability while reducing hospitalization duration. Additional data are needed to augment this experience as IV sotalol use is broadened across different patient populations.