Open AccessComparison of the effects of bepridil and aprindine for the prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac and aortic surgery: A prospective randomized study
Author(s) -
Ozawa Mahito,
Komatsu Takashi,
Sato Yoshihiro,
Kunugita Fusanori,
Tachibana Hideaki,
Tashiro Atsushi,
Okabayashi Hitoshi,
Nakamura Motoyuki
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of arrhythmia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.463
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1883-2148
pISSN - 1880-4276
DOI - 10.1016/j.joa.2015.04.003
Subject(s) - medicine , bepridil , atrial fibrillation , cardiology , anesthesia , verapamil , calcium
Background Approximately one‐third of the patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery reportedly experience paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) during the postoperative period. However, the usefulness of antiarrhythmic drugs for preventing postoperative AF recurrence in the Japanese population has not been extensively studied. Methods From a total of 118 patients who developed postoperative paroxysmal AF between April 2009 and March 2011, 72 patients (45 men, mean age 68±8 years) requiring treatment for postoperative AF due to symptoms lasting ≥30 min were enrolled to prospectively investigate the efficacy of oral bepridil (100 mg/day, n =37) or aprindine (40 mg/day, n =35). Result The AF recurrence‐free survival rates at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days were 100%, 94%, 57%, and 49%, respectively, in the aprindine group, and 100%, 97%, 86%, and 76%, respectively, in the bepridil group ( P =0.028, aprindine vs. bepridil). Conclusion Bepridil, at a fixed dose of 100 mg/day, was considered to be more effective than a routine dose of aprindine for the prevention of postoperative AF recurrence.