Combined Use of Dexmedetomidine and Hydrocortisone to Prevent New Onset AF After CABG Surgery

Summary

Atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs in 20% to 40% of patients after Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and is associated with numerous detrimental sequelae. In postoperative period, the patient may be exposed to several proarrhythmogenic factors as increased endogenous catecholamines, inflammatory and oxidative mediators secondary to surgical stress and the systemic response to cardiopulmonary bypass, use of inotropic support. Steroids suppress the release of the above-mentioned inflammatory mediators. Dexmedetomidine is sympatholytic, along with anti-inflammatory properties. so combined use of both drugs may have synergistic effect to prevent post operative AF (POAF)

Timeline

Start

2022-12-25

Primary completion

2023-06-25

Completion

2023-07-25

Publications

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• Background Narisawa A, Nakane M, Kano T, Momose N, Onodera Y, Akimoto R, Kobayashi T, Iwabuchi M, Okada M, Miura Y, Kawamae K. Dexmedetomidine sedation during the nighttime reduced the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation in cardiovascular surgery patients after tracheal extubation. J Intensive Care. 2015 May 30;3(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s40560-015-0092-5. eCollection 2015.
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• Background Ueki M, Kawasaki T, Habe K, Hamada K, Kawasaki C, Sata T. The effects of dexmedetomidine on inflammatory mediators after cardiopulmonary bypass. Anaesthesia. 2014 Jul;69(7):693-700. doi: 10.1111/anae.12636. Epub 2014 Apr 28.
• Background January CT, Wann LS, Calkins H, Chen LY, Cigarroa JE, Cleveland JC Jr, Ellinor PT, Ezekowitz MD, Field ME, Furie KL, Heidenreich PA, Murray KT, Shea JB, Tracy CM, Yancy CW. 2019 AHA/ACC/HRS Focused Update of the 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019 Jul 9;74(1):104-132. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.01.011. Epub 2019 Jan 28. No abstract available.
• Background Leung L, Lee LHN, Lee B, Chau A, Wang EHZ. The safety of high-dose dexmedetomidine after cardiac surgery: a historical cohort study. Can J Anaesth. 2022 Mar;69(3):323-332. doi: 10.1007/s12630-021-02167-z. Epub 2021 Dec 29.
• Background Al-Shawabkeh Z, Al-Nawaesah K, Anzeh RA, Al-Odwan H, Al-Rawashdeh WA, Altaani H. Use of short-term steroids in the prophylaxis of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. J Saudi Heart Assoc. 2017 Jan;29(1):23-29. doi: 10.1016/j.jsha.2016.03.005. Epub 2016 Apr 7.
• Background Church TJ, Haines ST. Treatment Approach to Patients With Severe Insulin Resistance. Clin Diabetes. 2016 Apr;34(2):97-104. doi: 10.2337/diaclin.34.2.97.
• Background Engelman DT, Ben Ali W, Williams JB, Perrault LP, Reddy VS, Arora RC, Roselli EE, Khoynezhad A, Gerdisch M, Levy JH, Lobdell K, Fletcher N, Kirsch M, Nelson G, Engelman RM, Gregory AJ, Boyle EM. Guidelines for Perioperative Care in Cardiac Surgery: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Society Recommendations. JAMA Surg. 2019 Aug 1;154(8):755-766. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.1153.
• Alhadidy MA, Alansary AM, Elghareeb SH. Combined Use of Dexmedetomidine and Hydrocortisone to Prevent New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2025 Dec;29(4):284-290. doi: 10.1177/10892532251338374. Epub 2025 Apr 27.

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