title: [Prophylactic effect of magnesium infusion against postoperative atrial fibrillation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication of cardiac operation. For the development of postoperative AF, various risk factors have been identified over the years. In a recent study, it was detected that low serum magnesium levels was an independent predictor of AF after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The purpose of this study was to assess the prophylactic effect of intravenous magnesium infusion on postoperative AF.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 62 consecutive patients who had elective, first time cardiac operation on cardiopulmonary bypass were prospectively categorized to 2 group. In the treatment group, 30 patients received 8.3 mmol of magnesium sulfate in 100 ml of saline solution that was administered over 4 hours, preoperatively, just after admission in the ICU, and at the postoperative day 1, 2, 3, and 4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative AF occurred in 3/30 (10.0%) patients in the treatment group and in 14/32 (43.8%) patients in the control group (p<0.01). The arrhythmia developed on the 2.9 postoperative day on average. The postoperative length of hospital stay was significantly shortened in the treatment group (15.9 +/- 4.0 days) than that in the control group (20.5 +/- 7.0, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that magnesium sulfate infusion is effective for the prophylaxis of post operative AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Yamanashi Central Hospital, Kofu, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Narutoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hibino
authors.forename: Eiki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mizutani
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium