Adenosine in Wide-Complex Tachycardia, ,

The use of adenosine as a therapeutic and diagnostic tool in wide- complex tachycardia is suggested in the current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) guidelines. The ACLS guidelines are now 4 years old, and new information on the safety and efficiency of adenosine in wide-complex tachycardia is available. We review the ACLS recommendations in light of the current available literature. In general, the ACLS recommendations remain reasonable with some important caveats. [Herbert ME, Votey SR: Adenosine in wide-complex tachycardia. Ann Emerg Med January 1997;29:172-174.]