title: Effect of ranolazine in preventing postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing coronary revascularization surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ranolazine is a new anti-ischemic agent approved for chronic angina with additional electrophysiologic properties. The purpose of the present trial was to investigate its effect in preventing postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current prospective, randomized, (1 active: 2 control), single-blind (outcome assessors), single-centre clinical trial we recruited consecutive eligible patients scheduled for elective on-pump CABG. Participants were assigned to receive either oral ranolazine 375 mg twice daily for 3 days prior to surgery and until discharge, or to receive usual care. Patients were monitored for the development of POAF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We enrolled 102 patients. Significantly lower incidence of POAF was noted in the ranolazine group compared with the control group (3 out of 34 patients, 8.8%, vs 21 out of 68 patients, 30.8%; p< 0.001). Mean values of left atrial diameter and left ventricular ejection fraction between the control and the ranolazine group were not significantly different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest a protective role of oral ranolazine when administered in a moderate dose preoperatively in patients undergoing on-pump CABG surgery. Future studies based on a wider sample of patients will eventually support our conclusions.
authors.forename: Georgios I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Tagarakis
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aidonidis
authors.forename: Stella S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Daskalopoulou
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Simopoulos
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liouras
authors.forename: Marios E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Daskalopoulos
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parisis
authors.forename: Kiriaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Skoularingis
authors.forename: Filippos
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Triposkiadis
authors.forename: Paschalis-Adam
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Molyvdas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece. gtagarakis@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nikolaos B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Tsilimingas
mesh_terms: D000083:Acetanilides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000009:adverse effects; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D000069458:Ranolazine; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000083:Acetanilides; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D000069458:Ranolazine