The Response to Antiarrhythmia Therapy with Amiodarone in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Abstract

Background: The immediate response obtained following intravenous amiodarone administration, has made amiodarone to be the first choice for arrhythmia treatment occurring after coronary artery bypass grafting. However, whether the response is the same with all the patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting is unknown. Methods: We investigated the response to amiodarone therapy in diabetic and nondiabetic patients who developed arrhythmia after coronary artery bypass grafting operation. The response to amiodarone therapy in 25 Type II (noninsulin-depending) diabetic patients was compared with that in 25 non-diabetic patients (i.e. controls). Results: In the diabetic group, atrial fibrillation was observed in 19 patients, and premature ventricular contractions and supraventricular tachycardia were observed in 4 and 2 patients, retrospectively. Atrial fibrillation and premature ventricular contractions were observed in 21 and 4 patients in the control group. In case of arrhythmia, the mean heart rate was 140.92±21.73 beats/min and 141.16±20.31 beats/min in diabetic patients, and the control group, respectively. Upon intravenous amiodarone administration, the mean heart rate was decreased to 87.04±6.11 beats/min in diabetic patients and to 85.92±6.86 beats/min in the control group. The mean response time to the amiodarone therapy was statistically significantly different in diabetic patients (20.8±16.95 hours) when compared with the response time in the control group (7.2±2.39 hours) (p<0.05). Conclusion: The response to amiodarone therapy for arrhythmia was found to be delayed in diabetic patients compared with that in non-diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting operation.