ATS
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Personal Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Author home page(s):
James B. Williams
Larry W. Stephenson
Right arrow Permission Requests
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Williams, J. B.
Right arrow Articles by Josephson, M. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Williams, J. B.
Right arrow Articles by Josephson, M. E.

Ann Thorac Surg 1982;34:435-438
© 1982 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Articles

Arrhythmia Prophylaxis Using Propranolol after Coronary Artery Surgery

James B. Williams, M.D., Larry W. Stephenson, M.D.*, Fred D. Holford, M.D., Terry Langer, M.D., W. Bruce Dunkman, M.D., Mark E. Josephson, M.D.

Departments of Surgery and Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Veteran's Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

Accepted for publication December 2, 1981.

* Address reprint requests to Dr. Stephenson, 4 Silverstein, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104

Sixty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting operations with cold potassium cardioplegia as the method of myocardial preservation either received low-dose oral propranolol (10 mg every 6 hours; 28 patients) or served as controls (32 patients). The study period began after extubation and ended at the time of hospital discharge. On the fourth postoperative day, 24-hour Holter monitoring was performed to assess additional subtle differences in arrhythmias.

The overall incidence of symptomatic postoperative arrhythmias was 31% in the control group: 6 patients (19%) had atrial fibrillation or flutter and 4 patients (12%), ventricular arrhythmias. By contrast, 1 patient (4%) in the propranolol group had atrial fibrillation, and no patient had ventricular arrhythmias. The difference in overall arrhythmia rates between the two groups is significant (p < 0.025). Twenty-four-hour Holter monitoring demonstrated no additional differences in the frequency of simple or complex atrial or ventricular ectopy between the two groups.

We conclude that the incidence of postoperative arrhythmias following coronary artery bypass operation is diminished by the oral administration of prophylactic low-dose propranolol. When compared with our previous study [1], in which the method of myocardial preservation was intermittent aortic cross-clamping and moderate hypothermia, there is no difference in the overall incidence of postoperative arrhythmias.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Anesth. Analg.Home page
F. Wiesbauer, O. Schlager, H. Domanovits, B. Wildner, G. Maurer, M. Muellner, H. Blessberger, and M. Schillinger
Perioperative {beta}-Blockers for Preventing Surgery-Related Mortality and Morbidity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Anesth. Analg., January 1, 2007; 104(1): 27 - 41.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur Heart JHome page
D. C. Burgess, M. J. Kilborn, and A. C. Keech
Interventions for prevention of post-operative atrial fibrillation and its complications after cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis
Eur. Heart J., December 1, 2006; 27(23): 2846 - 2857.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ChestHome page
D. Bradley, L. L. Creswell, C. W. Hogue Jr., A. E. Epstein, E. N. Prystowsky, and E. G. Daoud
Pharmacologic Prophylaxis: American College of Chest Physicians Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery
Chest, August 1, 2005; 128(2_suppl): 39S - 47S.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CirculationHome page
E. Crystal, S. J. Connolly, K. Sleik, T. J. Ginger, and S. Yusuf
Interventions on Prevention of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Heart Surgery: A Meta-Analysis
Circulation, July 2, 2002; 106(1): 75 - 80.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
Y.-F. Chen and Y.-T. Lin
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Myocardial Preservation in Right Atrium and Left Ventricle
Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 1985; 40(1): 25 - 30.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
Y.-F. Chen and Y.-T. Lin
Comparison of Blood Cardioplegia to Electrolyte Cardioplegia on the Effectiveness of Preservation of Right Atrial Myocardium: Mitochondrial Morphometric Study
Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 1985; 39(2): 134 - 138.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
J. W. Hammon Jr., A. J. J. Wood, R. L. Prager, M. Wood, J. Muirhead, and H. W. Bender Jr.
Perioperative Beta Blockade with Propranolol: Reduction in Myocardial Oxygen Demands and Incidence of Atrial and Ventricular Arrhythmias
Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 1984; 38(4): 363 - 367.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
C. I. Tchervenkov, J. E. Wynands, J. F. Symes, I. D. Malcolm, A. R. C. Dobell, and J. E. Morin
Persistent Atrial Activity during Cardioplegic Arrest: A Possible Factor in the Etiology of Postoperative Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmias
Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 1983; 36(4): 437 - 443.
[Abstract] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANN THORAC SURG ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG
J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG ICVTS ALL CTSNet JOURNALS
Copyright © 1982 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.