title: Does sodium nitroprusside decrease the incidence of atrial fibrillation after myocardial revascularization?: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) often occurs after coronary artery bypass grafting and can result in increased morbidity and mortality. In the present pilot study, our aim was to investigate whether sodium nitroprusside (SNP), as a nitric oxide donor, can reduce the frequency of post-coronary artery bypass grafting AF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To investigate the effectiveness of SNP in the prophylaxis of AF, we conducted a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study on 100 consecutive patients in whom we performed elective and initial CABG operations. A control group of 50 patients were treated with placebo (dextrose 5% in water), whereas the SNP group (n=50 patients) was treated with SNP (0.5 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) during the rewarming period. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were measured before surgery and 5 days postoperatively. All patients were monitored postoperatively with telemetry. Baseline characteristics were similar in both treatment groups. AF occurred in 12% of the SNP group and 27% of the control group. The occurrence of AF was significantly lower in the SNP group (P=0.005). The duration of AF in the SNP group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (5.33+/-1.86 and 7.55+/-1.94 hours, respectively; P=0.023). C-reactive protein levels were higher postoperatively in the control group than in the SNP group (P<0.05). Postoperative AF significantly prolonged postoperative hospital stay (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of postoperative AF in the SNP group was reduced significantly. Further studies are needed to better delineate the anti-AF profile of SNP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Umut Heart Hospital, GMK Bulvari, Ozveren Sok. No. 17, Maltepe, 06570, Ankara, Turkey. raif.cavolli@gmail.com
authors.forename: Raif
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cavolli
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Alp
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: Ozan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Emiroglu
authors.forename: Sebnem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erturk
authors.forename: Ozge
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oguz
authors.forename: Refik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tasoz
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ozyurda
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009599:Nitroprusside; D002097:C-Reactive Protein