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The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Ibutilide versus amiodarone in atrial fibrillation: a double-blinded, randomized study
Emanuel O Bernard1, Edith R Schmid, Daniel Schmidlin
1Division of Cardiovascular Anesthesia, Institute of Anesthesiology, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Critical Care Medicine
|April 12, 2003
Summary
Ibutilide and amiodarone showed similar efficacy in converting atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm post-cardiac surgery. Ibutilide did not demonstrate a significant advantage, but it was associated with fewer cases of severe hypotension.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Atrial fibrillation is a common complication after cardiac surgery.
- Class III antiarrhythmic drugs like ibutilide are used for rhythm conversion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy and safety of ibutilide versus amiodarone for atrial fibrillation conversion in post-cardiac surgery patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, randomized, double-blinded study in a university hospital ICU.
- Forty adult patients with recent-onset atrial fibrillation received either ibutilide or amiodarone.
- Efficacy assessed by conversion rates, time to conversion, and recurrence; safety monitored for adverse events like hypotension.
Main Results:
- Conversion rates within 4 hours were similar: 45% for ibutilide and 50% for amiodarone (not significant).
- Mean time to conversion was not significantly different between groups (385 min vs. 495 min).
- Two patients in the amiodarone group discontinued treatment due to severe hypotension; no such cases occurred with ibutilide.
Conclusions:
- Ibutilide offers no significant advantage over amiodarone in converting atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm post-cardiac surgery.
- Ibutilide was associated with a lower incidence of severe hypotension compared to amiodarone.
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