HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Thomas D. Christensen Vibeke E. Hjortdal Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Zebis, L. R. Articles by Hjortdal, V. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Zebis, L. R. Articles by Hjortdal, V. E. Related Collections Electrophysiology - arrhythmias Related Article

---

Original Articles: Cardiovascular

Amiodarone Cost Effectiveness in Preventing Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

^a Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark
^b Research Units of General Practice in Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
^c Institute of Health Management and Health Economics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

Accepted for publication July 23, 2007.

^_* Address correspondence to Dr Zebis, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, Aarhus N, DK-8200, Denmark (Email: lrz{at}post.tele.dk).

Background: The purpose of this study was to estimate the costs and health benefits of routinely administered postoperative amiodarone as prevention of atrial fibrillation for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for stable angina.

Methods: This cost-effectiveness study was based on a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial (the RASCABG study) using avoidance of atrial fibrillation as the measure of benefit at the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark. Two hundred and fifty eligible consecutively enrolled CABG patients were included to receive either 300 mg amiodarone or placebo (5% aqueous dextrose solution) administered intravenously over 20 minutes followed by 600 mg amiodarone/placebo orally twice a day (8 AM and 8 PM) for the first 5 postoperative days.

Results: In the amiodarone group, there were 14 cases of atrial fibrillation compared with 32 in the control group (p < 0.01) whereas there were no differences in the length of stay. The mean total cost per patient was 7,639 in the amiodarone group and 7,814 in the placebo group (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Routine use of postoperative prophylactic intravenous bolus and subsequent 5 days of oral amiodarone therapy after coronary artery bypass grafting reduces the risk of atrial fibrillation and decreases the total costs of care by 175 per patient.

Related Article

Invited commentary

Adrian William Pick
Ann. Thorac. Surg. 2008 85: 32-33. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Roshanali, M. H. Mandegar, M. A. Yousefnia, F. Alaeddini, and B. Saidi Prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting via atrial electromechanical interval and use of amiodarone prophylaxis Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, April 1, 2009; 8(4): 421 - 425. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Simmons Postoperative Critical Care Management and Selected Postoperative Crises ACCP Crit Care Med Brd Rev, January 1, 2009; 20(0): 261 - 278. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. W. Pick Invited commentary Ann. Thorac. Surg., January 1, 2008; 85(1): 32 - 33. [Full Text] [PDF]