Association between perioperative dexmedetomidine and arrhythmias after surgery for congenital heart disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Dexmedetomidine is commonly used after congenital heart surgery and may be associated with a decreased incidence of postoperative tachyarrhythmias. Using a large cohort of patients undergoing congenital heart surgery, we examined for an association between dexmedetomidine use in the immediate postoperative period and subsequent arrhythmia development.

Methods and results

A total of 1593 surgical procedures for congenital heart disease were performed. Dexmedetomidine was administered in the immediate postoperative period after 468 (29%) surgical procedures. When compared with 1125 controls, the group receiving dexmedetomidine demonstrated significantly fewer tachyarrhythmias (29% versus 38%; P<0.001), tachyarrhythmias receiving intervention (14% versus 23%; P<0.001

SUBMITTER: Shuplock JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4472529 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature