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Updated: May 17, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Effect of ranolazine in preventing postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing coronary
Georgios I Tagarakis, Isaac Aidonidis, Stella S Daskalopoulou
1Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece. gtagarakis@gmail.com.
Background/Objective:
Ranolazine is a new anti-ischemic agent approved for chronic angina with additional electrophysiologic properties. The purpose of the present trial was to investigate its effect in preventing postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
Methods:
In the current prospective, randomized, (1 active: 2 control), single-blind (outcome assessors), single-centre clinical trial we recruited consecutive eligible patients scheduled for elective on-pump CABG. Participants were assigned to receive either oral ranolazine 375 mg twice daily for 3 days prior to surgery and until discharge, or to receive usual care. Patients were monitored for the development of POAF.
Results:
We enrolled 102 patients. Significantly lower incidence of POAF was noted in the ranolazine group compared with the control group (3 out of 34 patients, 8.8%, vs 21 out of 68 patients, 30.8%; p< 0.001). Mean values of left atrial diameter and left ventricular ejection fraction between the control and the ranolazine group were not significantly different.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest a protective role of oral ranolazine when administered in a moderate dose preoperatively in patients undergoing on-pump CABG surgery. Future studies based on a wider sample of patients will eventually support our conclusions.
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