Quinidine as a Cause of Sudden Death

Abstract

Sudden death and arterial embolism are unpredictable hazards of quinidine therapy for atrial fibrillation that act as deterrents to its most effective use. In this paper an attempt is made to determine the incidence of these accidents as reported in the literature. The mechanism of sudden death is also examined. The difficulty of determining the role of quinidine in producing these accidents in seriously ill patients is clarified.