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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1996; 44(6): 300-303
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1012041
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Prevention of Atrial Tachyarrhythmias After Non-Cardiac Thoracic Surgery by Infusion of Magnesium Sulfate

A. Terzi, G. Furlan, P. Chiavacci2 , B. Dal Corso1 , A. Luzzani1 , S. Dalla Volta2
  • Division of Thoracic Surgery
  • 1Second Service of Anesthesiology, Ospedale Civile Maggiore Azienda Ospedaliera and University of Verona, Verona
  • 2Division of Cardiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Padua Medical School, Padova, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

1996

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Magnesium Sulfate Prevents Atrial Tachyarrhythmias After Cardiac and Non-Cardiac Surgery - What is the Common Mechanism?*Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997; 45(04): 213-214
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1013729

Abstract

The possible role of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) infusion in the prevention of atrial tachyarrhythmias after non-cardiac thoracic surgery was evaluated through a prospective study of two hundred patients who underwent non-cardiac thoracic surgery. The patients (who fulfilled the following requirements among others: no myocardial infarction in the previous six months, normal renal function, no use of digitalis or antiarrhythmic drugs, not undergone emergency Operations or video-as-sisted thoracic surgery), were randomly assigned to receive MgSO4 infusion in all circumstances (Mg group), or either no treatment or, if aged over 70 or in cases of pneumonectomy or an intrapericardial procedure, application of digoxin starting on the day of Operation (control group). 95 patients were enrolled in the Mg group and 105 in the control group. 93 patients in the Mg group and 101 in the control group were evaluated. Postoperative atrial tachyarrhythmias, mainly atrial fibrillation, occurred in 10 patients (10.7 %) in the Mg group and in 27 (26.7%) patients in the control group (X2 = 7.009, df = 1, p = 0.008). It is concluded that infusion of MgSO4 is an effective means of reducing the incidence of atrial tachyarrhythmias after non-cardiac thoracic surgery.

Key words

Postoperative atrial tachyarrhythmia - Thoracic surgery - Magnesium sulfate

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