title: Prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting via atrial electromechanical interval and use of amiodarone prophylaxis.
abstract: In our previous study, we defined a cut-off point of 120 ms for atrial electromechanical interval (AEMi) to determine the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) occurrence. Accordingly, the present study sought to investigate whether or not a prophylactic perioperative administration of amiodarone could reduce the incidence of AF in a high-risk group (AEMi >120 ms) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In this prospective, randomized study, 100 patients with AEMi >120 ms received either amiodarone (n=50) or placebo (n=50). The endpoints were AF occurrence after CABG and hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) lengths of stay after CABG. The incidence of postoperative AF was significantly higher in the placebo group than that of the amiodarone group (88% of patients in control group vs. 16% of patients in amiodarone group, P<0.0001). The prophylactic therapy with amiodarone significantly reduced the ICU length of stay (2.28+/-1.00 vs. 3.60+/-0.90 days, P<0.0001) and hospital length of stay (5.64+/-2.35 vs. 7.78+/-1.46 days, P<0.0001). The incidence of postoperative AF among patients with high AEMi was significantly reduced by a prophylactic amiodarone treatment, resulting in shorter ICU and hospital stays.
authors.affiliation: Day General Hospital, Tavanir St, Vali Asr Ave, Tehran, Iran. farideh_roshanali@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roshanali
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Mandegar
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Yousefnia
authors.forename: Farshid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alaeddini
authors.forename: Bahare
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saidi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016275:Atrial Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000638:Amiodarone