Annals of noninvasive electrocardiology : the official journal of the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Inc
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Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol · Apr 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialRandomized study of early intravenous esmolol versus oral beta-blockers in preventing post-CABG atrial fibrillation in high risk patients identified by signal-averaged ECG: results of a pilot study.
Patients with prolonged signal-averaged ECG have four times higher risk for development of atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Incidence of AF is reduced, but not eliminated by prophylaxis with beta-blockers. The limitations of prophylaxis with oral beta-blockers may be related to the delayed effect of oral therapy. We performed a pilot study of the efficacy of early intravenous esmolol and an oral beta-blocker regimen for prevention of postoperative AF. ⋯ This randomized controlled pilot study suggests that intravenous esmolol is less well tolerated and offers no advantages to standard beta-blocker in preventing AF after CABG.