Anaesthetic management of children with a single ventricle with pulmonary atresia coming for emergency burr hole tapping

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) occurs in 30–50% of patients after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Serum hypomagnesemia is common after cardiac surgeries. The primary objective was to evaluate whether magnesium infusion could reduce the incidence of POAF after off-pump CABG. METHODS: This prospective, single-centre, randomised controlled study was conducted among 100 patients who underwent off-pump CABG. The participants were classified into two groups: group (M), study group, started on magnesium infusion for 3 days after an initial bolus dose as the patient is received in the intensive care unit (ICU), and group (C), control group, managed with usual care. The target in group M was to attain a serum magnesium level of 1.5 to 2 mmol/L. The incidence of POAF was observed in both the groups. A p value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. RESULTS: The incidence of POAF was significantly higher in the control group (20%) when compared to the study group (2%) (p = 0.008). There were no significant changes in the secondary objectives (vasoactive inotropic scores, length of ICU stay, additional pharmacotherapy, and cardioversion needed) between both the groups. CONCLUSION: The study established that continuous magnesium infusion was effective in preventing POAF in patients undergoing off-pump CABGs.