Phenylephrine reduced heart rate by an average of 20 bpm (from 94.1 to 73.8) in 25 pediatric patients undergoing coronary CT angiography without adverse effects.
Does phenylephrine reduce heart rate and enable diagnostic quality images in children undergoing sedated coronary CT angiography?
Phenylephrine safely and effectively reduces heart rate by an average of 20 bpm in pediatric patients undergoing sedated coronary CT angiography, facilitating diagnostic quality imaging.
Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%
Abstract Background Obtaining images of diagnostic quality using coronary CT angiography (CCTA) depends, in part, upon a patient’s heart rate (HR) at time of scanning. HR reduction is most commonly achieved with beta blockers. In the pediatric population, the effectiveness of beta blockers is limited by hypotensive effects. Phenylephrine, a pure alpha agonist, raises blood pressure and causes reflex bradycardia so could be used to reduce patients’ HRs. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all children at a single center who underwent sedated CCTA study using phenylephrine between 2019-2024. Results In 25 children (mean age 5.3±2.5 years), HR was reduced from a mean of 94.1 to 73.8 bpm. No adverse effects were reported. Images of diagnostic quality were obtained in all patients. Conclusion In this first-of-its-kind study we found that phenylephrine was effective at reducing patients’ HRs prior to CCTA, with average reduction of 20 bpm.
Cohen et al. (Wed,) reported a other. Phenylephrine reduced heart rate by an average of 20 bpm (from 94.1 to 73.8) in 25 pediatric patients undergoing coronary CT angiography without adverse effects.