Randomized clinical trial of moxonidine in patients undergoing major vascular surgery.
BACKGROUND
Myocardial ischaemia is the leading cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality after surgery in patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of moxonidine, a centrally acting sympatholytic agent, on perioperative myocardial ischaemia and 1-year mortality in patients undergoing major vascular surgery.


METHODS
In this double-blind, placebo-controlled two-centre trial, 141 patients were randomly assigned to receive moxonidine or placebo on the morning before surgery and on the following 4 days. Levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were analysed before surgery and on days 1, 2, 3 and 7 thereafter. Holter electrocardiograms were recorded for 48 h starting before the administration of the study drug. Patients were followed daily during admission and by telephone interview 12 months after surgery.


RESULTS
The incidence of raised perioperative cTnI levels or alteration in the ST segment in the Holter electrocardiogram or both was 40 per cent in the moxonidine group and 37 per cent in the placebo group (P = 0.694). All-cause mortality rates within 12 months were 10 per cent in the moxonidine group and 11 per cent in the placebo group (P = 0.870).


CONCLUSIONS
Small oral doses of moxonidine did not reduce the incidence of perioperative myocardial ischaemia and had no effect on mortality in patients undergoing vascular surgery.


BACKGROUND
NCT00244504 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
Bolliger
D
D
Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Seeberger
M D
MD
Lurati Buse
G A L
GA
Christen
P
P
Gürke
L
L
Filipovic
M
M
D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014336:Troponin / Q000378:metabolism; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*
D007093:Imidazoles; D013565:Sympatholytics; D014336:Troponin; C043482:moxonidine