Effect of prophylaxis of magnesium sulfate for reduction of postcardiac surgery arrhythmia: Randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Arrhythmia is a common complication after heart surgery and is a major source of morbidity and mortality. AIMS: This study aimed to study the effect of magnesium sulfate (MgSO(4)) for reduction of postcardiac surgery arrhythmia. SETTING AND DESIGN: This study is performed in the cardiac operating room and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Shahid Madani Hospital of Tabriz (Iran) between January 1, 2014, and September 30, 2014. This study is a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In Group 1 (group magnesium [Mg]), eighty patients received 30 mg/kg MgSO(4) in 500 cc normal saline and in Group 2 (group control), eighty patients received 500 cc normal saline alone. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The occurrence of arrhythmia was compared between groups by Chi-square and Fisher's exact test. In addition, surgical time, length of ICU stay, and length of hospital stay were compared by independent t-test. P < 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the incidence of arrhythmia between two groups (P = 0.037). The length of ICU stay was 3.4 ± 1.4 and 3.73 ± 1.77 days in group MgSO(4) and control group, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between two groups (P = 0.2). CONCLUSION: Mg significantly decreases the incidence of all type of postcardiac surgery arrhythmia and hospital length of stay at patients undergo cardiac surgery. We offer prophylactic administration of Mg at patients undergo cardiac surgery.