Overdrive pacing as treatment of sotalol-induced ventricular tachyarrhythmias (torsade de pointes).

Four patients with ventricular arrhythmias due to sotalol intoxication were successfully treated with overdrive pacing. In three patients the reason for sotalol overdose was a suicidal attempt and in the fourth patient the reason was unknown. In all cases a prolongation of the Q-T interval was seen, which is a typical feature of sotalol overdose. Other features of beta-blocker intoxication like bradycardia were found in all patients and hypotension in two patients. Three of four patients received lidocaine, but with no effect on multiple ventricular premature beats (VPB) or ventricular tachycardia (VT) of "torsade de pointes"-type. Overdrive pacing abolished immediately VPBs and VTs in three patients, and in the fourth patient there was apparent decrease in dysrhythmia. Temporary overdrive pacing is suggested as treatment of ventricular arrhythmias in association with prolonged Q-T interval caused by overdose of sotalol.