@article {2147,
	title = {\&nbsp;Effects of diltiazem prophylaxis on the incidence and clinical outcome of atrial arrhythmias after thoracic surgery},
	journal = {Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery},
	volume = {120},
	number = {4},
	year = {2000},
	pages = {790-798},
	abstract = {OBJECTIVES:

We sought to determine whether early prophylaxis with an L -type calcium channel blocker reduces the incidence and morbidity associated with atrial fibrillation/flutter and supraventricular tachyarrhythmia after major thoracic operations.
METHODS:

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 330 patients were given either intravenous diltiazem (n = 167) or placebo (n = 163) immediately after lobectomy (> or =60 years) or pneumonectomy (> or =18 years) and orally thereafter for 14 days. The primary end point with respect to efficacy was a sustained (> or =15 minutes) or clinically significant atrial arrhythmia during treatment.
RESULTS:

Postoperative atrial arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation/flutter = 60; supraventricular tachyarrhythmias = 5) occurred in 25 (15\%) of the 167 patients in the diltiazem group and 40 (25\%) of the 163 patients in the placebo group (P = .03). When compared with placebo, diltiazem nearly halved the incidence of clinically significant arrhythmias (17/167 [10\%] vs. 31/163 [19\%], P = .02). The 2 groups did not differ in the incidence of other major postoperative complications or overall duration or costs of hospitalization. No serious adverse effects caused by diltiazem were seen.
CONCLUSIONS:

After major thoracic operations, prophylactic diltiazem reduced the incidence of clinically significant atrial arrhythmias in patients considered at high risk for this complication.
},
	author = {D. Amar and N. Roistacher and VW Rusch and D.H.Y. Leung and Isaac Ginsburg and H. Zhang and MS Bains and RJ Downey and RJ. Korst and RJ. Ginsberg}
}
