The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 31, 496-501, Copyright © 1981 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Digoxin and propranolol in the prophylaxis of supraventricular tachydysrhythmias after coronary artery bypass surgery
JA Roffman and A Fieldman
Supraventricular tachydysrhythmia is a bothersome and potentially harmful
occurrence after coronary artery bypass graft operation (CABG). Use of
digoxin prophylaxis preoperatively has yielded conflicting results in
lowering the incidence of supraventricular tachydysrhythmia. In this study,
three groups of patients were formed. Group 1 served as the control; no
prophylactic medication was given. Group 2 was given digoxin prophylaxis
beginning immediately after operation. Group 3 received digoxin
postoperatively as did Group 2, plus orally administered propranolol
beginning on postoperative day 2. No difference in the incidence of
supraventricular tachydysrhythmia was found between Groups 1 and 2 (28.2%
versus 28.9%). However, the incidence in Group 3 was 2.2%, and this
represented a statistically significant difference (p less than 0.005)
compared with either Group or 2. The combined use of digoxin and
propranolol postoperatively significantly reduced the incidence of
supraventricular tachydysrhythmia after CABG.