The effect of intravenous N-acetylcysteine on prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most frequently occurring dysrhythmias after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravenous N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the prevention of AF after CABG surgery. METHODS: In a double-blind, randomised controlled trial, a total of 150 patients who were scheduled for on-pump CABG surgery were randomly assigned into two groups. In group A, patients received an intravenous NAC infusion (50 mg/kg) after induction of anaesthesia. These patients additionally received two intravenous doses of NAC on postoperative days 1 and 2. Patients in group B received normal saline (as a placebo) with the same volume, during the same time interval. During the first three days after surgery, postoperative AF (POAF) was assessed by continuous electrocardiogram monitoring; serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level was also assessed before and three days after surgery. RESULTS: During follow-up, 17 patients (17/141, 12.1%) developed POAF. POAF occurred in four (5.6%) patients in the NAC group and 13 (18.8%) patients in the placebo group (OR 0.23; 95% CI 0.08-0.82; p = 0.02). In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, the only predictor of AF after CABG surgery was the use of NAC (OR 0.21; 95% CI 0.06-0.73; p = 0.01). Also, the hsCRP level trend in the NAC group was different from the trend in the control group (group time interaction or interaction effect) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that perioperative intravenous NAC therapy can be effectively used to reduce inflammation and the incidence of POAF after CABG surgery. The clinical trial registration number: IRCT2015040921669N1.

Comparing Hemodynamic Responses to Diazepam, Propofol and Etomidate During Anesthesia Induction in Patients with Left Ventricular Dysfunction Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: a Double-blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Anesthesia induction is often accompanied by a period of hemodynamic instability, which could be deleterious in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricular dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the hemodynamic responses to propofol, etomidate, and diazepam following anesthesia induction, laryngoscopy and intubation in CABG surgery patients with low ejection fraction (EF). METHODS: A double-blind randomized, clinical study was performed on 150 patients with CAD and left ventricular dysfunction (EF≤35%) scheduled for elective CABG surgery with Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Patients were randomly allocated to three groups A, B, and C. These patients received propofol, etomidate or diazepam at induction of anesthesia, respectively. Hemodynamic variables (systolic and diastolic blood pressure [SBP, DBP], mean arterial pressure [MAP] and heart rate [HR]) were measured and recorded at baseline, immediately before laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation and one and three minutes after intubation. RESULT: One minute after induction and before laryngoscopy, there was a statistically significant decrease from the baseline in SBP, DBP and MAP in all three groups, but these variables in each hemodynamic parameters in diazepam group were less than other two groups (p<0.001). Moreover, the mean HR decreased in patients receiving propofol and etomidate one minute after induction and before laryngoscopy, but did not decreased in the diazepam group (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: The present study showed that in patients undergoing CABG surgery with low EF, diazepam is more favorable in terms of hemodynamic stability compared to propofol and etomidate and this drug can be used safely for induction of anesthesia in patients with impaired ventricular function.