Effect of Prophylaxis of Amiodarone and Magnesium to Prevent Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Rheumatic Valve Disease Undergoing Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery

CONTEXT: Maintenance of sinus rhythm is superior to the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with rheumatic valve disease undergoing mitral valve replacement (MVR) surgery. AIM: To evaluate the effect of prophylactic combination of intravenous (i.v.) amiodarone and magnesium sulfate (MgSO(4)) in patients undergoing MVR surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients with valvular heart disease with or without AF were randomly divided into two groups. Group I (n = 60) received amiodarone (3 mg.kg (−1) in 20 mL saline) + MgSO(4) (30 mg.kg (− 1) in 20 mL saline), and Group II (n = 60) received 40 mL of normal saline. The standardized protocol for cardiopulmonary bypass was maintained for all the patients. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and percentages. Student's independent t-test was employed for comparing continuous variables. Chi-square test was applied for comparing categorical variables. RESULTS: Before surgery, AF was observed in 58.3% of patients in Group I and in 53.3% of patients in Group II (P = 0.581). Postoperatively, in the intensive care unit, 26.7% of the patients in Group I and 71.7% in Group II had AF (P < 0.001). At the time of discharge, 30% of patients in Group I and 73.3% of patients in Group II had AF (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A single combined prophylactic intraoperative dose of i.v. amiodarone and MgSO(4) decreased postbypass arrhythmia in comparison to the placebo group in patients of MVR surgery.