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Ann Thorac Surg 1999;68:627
© 1999 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Correspondence

To use or not to use propranolol for prophylaxis of postthoracotomy arrhythmias

Tsung O. Cheng, MDa

a Division of Cardiology, George Washington University Medical Center, 2150 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA

To the Editor

Concerning the article on propranolol for prevention of postoperative arrhythmias in thoracic surgery [1], I was fascinated as well as puzzled by the diametrically opposite conclusions stated by the authors in their abstract, and by the presenting author during the Discussion. In the conclusion of the abstract, the authors stated that "There was a trend to a reduction in the risk of perioperative arrhythmias with propranolol." But in the discussion at the meeting where the paper was originally presented, Dr Inculet, on behalf of all the other authors, concluded that "we do not recommend at this time routine use of propranolol as prophylaxis of postoperative arrhythmias."

I wonder what the take-home message should be to the readers of your journal concerning this age-old debate of the necessity and effectiveness of use of drugs for prophylaxis of posthoracotomy supraventricular tachyarrhythmias [2–4].

References

  1. Bayliff C.D., Massel D.R., Inculet R.I., et al. Propranolol for the prevention of postoperative arrhythmias in general thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg 1999;67:182-186.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Cheng T.O. Postoperative supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Ann Thorac Surg 1982;33:528-529.[Medline]
  3. Cheng T.O. Treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in critically ill patients. Crit Care Med 1991;19:843-844.[Medline]
  4. Cheng T.O. Treatment of postthoracotomy supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Ann Thorac Surg 1993;56:593.

Related Article

Reply
Richard I. Inculet, David R. Massel, Charles D. Bayliff, and Richard A. Malthaner
Ann. Thorac. Surg. 1999 68: 627. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]



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