Prophylactic amiodarone versus lidocaine for prevention of reperfusion ventricular fibrillation after release of aortic cross-clamp.

Background And Objective: Ventricular fibrillation is common after aortic cross-clamp release in patients undergoing open-heart surgeries. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the prophylactic administration of 150 mg amiodarone by way of the pump 2 min before release of aortic cross-clamp in preventing ventricular fibrillation.

Methods: The present study is a prospective, randomized, controlled and blinded study performed at a teaching university hospital where 120 patients undergoing coronary bypass graft surgery were randomly assigned to three groups.