Evaluation of Using IVMagnesium Sulfate forPrevention of PostoperativeAtrial Fibrillation Arrhythmiain Patients UndergoingCoronary Artery BypassGrafting

Introduction & Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common important arrhythmia of cardiac surgery. Magnesium, like several other pharmacologic agents, has been used in the prophylaxis of postoperative AF with varying degrees of success. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of magnesium administration in reducing postoperative AF after cardiac surgery. Materials & Methods: In a double blind randomized clinical trial, over an 18-month period, 162 patients that electively scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass were studied. The patients were randomly assigned to magnesium receiving (n=81) and placebo (n=81) groups. In magnesium group, the patients were received an intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate, 2 g, immediately after the termination of cardiopulmonary bypass. Total serum magnesium concentration was measured before induction, immediately after operation (before magnesium infusion), and 24 hr after ICU admission. AF was sought with a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) from the end of surgery up till 72 hr after operation. Results: AF occurrence in magnesium group (7.4%) was lower than placebo group (34.6%) and the differences were statistically significant (p