title: Diltiazem versus amiodarone to prevent atrial fibrillation in coronary surgery.
abstract: The prophylactic effect of amiodarone on atrial fibrillation after coronary bypass grafting with extracorporeal circulation was compared with that of diltiazem in two groups of 60 patients each. Patients were monitored continuously for 8 days. The incidence of atrial fibrillation was recorded retrospectively in a control group of 60 patients who received our standard prophylactic regimen of an oral beta blocker. The incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation was not significantly different in the two test groups: 11.7% for the amiodarone group and 10% for the diltiazem group. The incidence of atrial fibrillation in the control group was 23.3% and the differences were marginally significant when compared to the amiodarone ( p = 0.093) and diltiazem groups ( p = 0.050). The prophylactic use of diltiazem or amiodarone is feasible and safe for patients undergoing coronary bypass, with similar rates of atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, General University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis P.C. 68100, Greece. dmikrou@med.duth.gr
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mikroulis
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Didilis
authors.forename: Fotios
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Konstantinou
authors.forename: Kosmas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsakiridis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vretzakis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bougioukas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004110:Diltiazem; D000638:Amiodarone