Clinical Conundrum:
You have a patient in SVT and need to administer adenosine quickly, what can you do?
Background:
Adenosine is traditionally administered using a 2- syringe method with a rapid IV push followed by a separate saline flush. A recent study demonstrated that an alternative single-syringe administration method is simple and no less effective than the two-syringe method.
Answer:
With the single-syringe method, 6 mg (2 mL) of adenosine and 18 mL of 0.9% normal saline are drawn up and combined into the same syringe for administration. For repeat dosing, the preparation will be 12 mg (4 mL) of adenosine and 16 mL of 0.9% normal saline.
This method eliminates the need for multiple syringe switching and results in an overall faster administration time.
Written by:
Joanne C. Routsolias, PharmD, RN, BCPS
Clinical PharmD Specialist - Emergency Medicine/Toxicology
Cook County Health
References:
McDowell M, Mokszycki R, Greenberg A, et al. Single Syringe Administration of Diluted Adenosine. Academic Emergency Medicine 2020; 27: 61– 63.