Prophylactic digitalization for thoracotomy: a reassessment.
A prospective, controlled, randomized clinical study of 140 patients undergoing elective thoracic operations over a period of 1 year in a regional referral unit was performed in which one group received digoxin and the other did not. The incidence of cardiac arrhythmia was compared in each group. Overall mortality was 5.7%. There was no significant difference in incidence of cardiac arrhythmia in each group, and we conclude that the prophylactic use of digoxin in elective thoracic operations should be revised.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
A J
AJ
Ritchie
P
P
Bowe
J R
JR
Gibbons
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors
D004077:Digoxin; D011188:Potassium; D010100:Oxygen