title: Verapamil as prophylactic treatment for atrial fibrillation after lung operations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation is a frequently occurring arrhythmia after thoracic operations. Preventive strategies for this complication have been extensively evaluated after cardiac operations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a prospective, open randomized study, comparing intravenous verapamil and placebo in 199 patients after pneumonectomy or lobectomy at the University Hospital of Leuven. Verapamil was administered as a bolus of 10 mg over 2 minutes followed by a 30-minute infusion of 0.375 mg/min and then 0.125 mg/min for 3 days. The patients were continuously monitored in the postoperative intensive care unit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atrial fibrillation occurred in 15% of the patients receiving placebo and in 8% of the patients receiving verapamil (difference not significant). The verapamil infusion was interrupted in 9% of the patients because of bradycardia and in 14% because of hypotension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If tolerated, continuous intravenous verapamil infusion showed only a modest prophylactic efficacy for the occurrence of atrial fibrillation after lung operations. In the dose employed the verapamil infusion was accompanied with a high incidence of side effects necessitating interruption of the therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Universitair Ziekenhuis Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Mieghem
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tits
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demuynck
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lacquet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deneffe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tjandra-Maga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demedts
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D014700:Verapamil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D014700:Verapamil; D000638:Amiodarone