Prevention of new-onset atrial fibrillation after direct myocardial revascularization surgery: Randomized comparative study

Abstract

In order to investigate the effect of Omegaven on the risk of paroxysms of atrial fibrillation lasting for more than 30 seconds, and other complications in the early postoperative period after coronary revascularization surgery, an open randomized comparative study was performed, which included 73 patients with CAD aged 41-75 (mean age 55±7.1 years; 82.2% males) without valvular heart disease and a previous history of atrial fibrillation, hospitalized to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting under extracorporeal circulation. The main group included 33 patients treated with intravenous infusions of the Omegaven emulsion (100 ml / day, single dose) in the first 5-7 days after the surgery. The comparison group consisted of 40 patients who did not receive Omegaven. The patients treated with Omegaven showed significantly lower rate of new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation paroxysms (9.1% vs. 32.5%, p<0.01) and other life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disorders (25.0% vs. 6.1%, p<0.01), also revealing a statistically significant reduction in the duration of postoperative period (14.1±2.21 days vs. 22.9±3.82 days, p<0.05). The decrease in the relative risk of atrial fibrillation in the group in question was 72%. The study detected no side effects typical for Omegaven. The data obtained suggest that Omegaven may be administered to prevent the development of atrial fibrillation in the early postoperative period after coronary revascularization surgery.