Long-term prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery surgery.

UNLABELLED

We researched the necessity of quinidine fumarate or acebutolol prophylaxis in patients in whom atrial fibrillation occurred in the postdischarge period and returned to sinus rhythm after coronary artery surgery.

DESIGN

Prospective review.

PATIENTS

Since 1992, 60 patients were chosen in whom atrial fibrillation occurred in early postoperative period. There were no significant differences between them and they were separated into 3 groups. In group I (20 patients) we did not give any drug, in group II (20 patients) quinidine fumarate was given and in group III (20 patients) acebutolol was given and patients were controlled for 90 days.

RESULT

Atrial fibrillation occurred in one patient in group I, (5%), two in group II (10%) and two in group III (10%), (p < 0.05). Different from the other groups, atrial fibrillation was asymptomatic with low ventricular response in group III.

CONCLUSIONS

There were no significant differences among three groups statistically, so we suggested that long-term prevention of atrial fibrillation with quinidine fumarate or acebutolol was not necessary after coronary artery surgery.