Prevention and Treatment of Supraventricular Tachycardia Shortly After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Randomized Open Trial

Abstract

Supraventricular arrhythmias continue to complicate the postoperative course of patients following coronary artery bypass grafting. In a randomized, open, controlled trial we assessed the value of two different beta-blocking agents in the prevention and treatment of these arrhythmias. Of 151 consecutive pa tients undergoing coronary artery surgery, 39 were treated with metoprolol and 41 were treated with sotalol (a beta blocker with class III antiarrhythmic prop erties). Fifty patients served as a control group and received no prophylactic therapy. Twenty-one patients were eliminated from the study for various rea sons, making a final total of 130 in the study group.