Is corticosteroids helpful in reducing incidence of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery? a prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study

ABSTRACT

postoperative atrial fibrillation [AF] is an important problem after cardiac surgery. Postoperative AF may be attributed to the generalised inflammatory response. Corticosteroids represent the only therapeutic drug with multi-inhibitory effects on various components of the inflammatory response. One hundred patients scheduled for open heart surgery divided into 2 groups, one group received 2 doses of dexamethazone and the other placebo to evaluate the effect on AF in 1[st] week postoperative. patients received dexamethazone were significantly less likely to have AF than patients of other group, also concentrations of c-reactive protein postoperatively were significantly lower in dexamethazone group. I.V. administration of dexamethazone is effective and well tolerated in prevention of AF after cardiac surgery