title: The role of ascorbic acid in the prevention of atrial fibrillation after elective on-pump myocardial revascularization surgery: a single-center experience--a pilot study.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia that occurs postoperatively in cardiac surgery. There is evidence for the role of oxidative stress in the etiology of AF. In our study, we examined whether antioxidant ascorbic acid (vitamin C), could help in the reduction of the incidence of postoperative AF. Patients who were scheduled to undergo elective isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were included in our study. One hundred and seventy patients were randomly divided in two groups: Group A (n=85) received vitamin C preoperatively and postoperatively whereas Group B (n=85) did not receive any (control group). The incidence of AF was 44.7% in the vitamin C group and 61.2% in the control group (P=0.041). The hospitalization time, the intensive care unit stay and the time interval for the conversion of AF into sinus rhythm was significantly shorter in the vitamin C group. Patients that developed AF also had longer hospital length of stay (9.5±2.8 days vs. 6.7±1.9, P=0.034). Supplementation of vitamin C reduces the incidence of postCABG AF, and decreases the time needed for rhythm restoration and length of hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Hospital G. Papanikolaou, Exohi, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papoulidis
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ananiadou
authors.forename: Eleftherios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chalvatzoulis
authors.forename: Fotini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ampatzidou
authors.forename: Charilaos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koutsogiannidis
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karaiskos
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madesis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Drossos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid