Supraventricular arrhythmias following coronary artery bypass: The effect of preoperative digitalis

Supraventricular arrhythmias continue to complicate the postoperative course of patients undergoing myocardial revascularization. In a previous study, we showed a decrease in arrhythmias if patients were given digitalis prior to operation. Since that time we have made two changes—propranolol is no longer discontinued prior to operation and cold hyperkalemic cardioplegic solution is routinely used. To assess the affect of these changes on arrhythmias, we repeated the previous study. One hundred twenty patients all receiving preoperative and postoperative propranolol were randomized into a control group and a digitalis-treated group. The incidence of supraventricular arrhythmia postoperatively was 21.4% in the control group and 3.1% in the digitalis group (p