[Use of high-dose oral amiodarone for the reversion of atrial fibrillation during the postoperative period of cardiac surgery].

PURPOSE

To report our experience using high dose oral amiodarone (1,800 mg/day) for the reversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in patients submitted to cardiac surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the records of 80 patients who had atrial fibrillation during the postoperative period after cardiac surgery, initially divided in two groups: group A, 28 patients that used amiodarone, and group B composed of patients receiving digoxin. The latter group was divided further in a third group (C), with 21 patients in which amiodarone was associated with digoxin if there was no reversion of the arrhythmia after 48 hours of treatment. The observed differences were considered significant at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Atrial fibrillation occurred in 19.4% of the patients submitted to surgery, predominating in males, 60 to 69 years-old. In group A there was reversion to sinus rhythm in 78.6% of the cases. In group B digoxin succeeded in 60%, and in group C 90% of the patients reverted to sinus rhythm.

CONCLUSION

High dose oral amiodarone, alone or combined to digoxin, can be safe and effective for the treatment of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.