Vernakalant Versus Amiodarone for Post-operative Atrial Fibrillation in Cardiac Surgery Patients
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2023-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Post-operative atrial fibrillation is a common problem post cardiac surgery with rates
exceeding 30%. Atrial fibrillation has multiple adverse effects on cardiac hemodynamics and
can lead to hypotension, diminished end organ perfusion and lengthen the stay in ICU.
Amiodarone is the medication of choice used for pharmacological cardioversion and can be used
with vasoactive medications. Intravenous amiodarone is associated with hypotension and end
organ perfusion requiring escalation in vasoactive support. Vernakalant is novel
anti-arrhythmic agent approved in Canada for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation that
primarily works on atrial channels and has no effect on contractility or vasodilation.
Clinical trials have proved good efficacy of Vernakalant in conversion of paroxysmal atrial
fibrillation however there is no comparison of Amiodarone to Vernakalant in post-operative
cardiac surgery. We plan to perform a clinical trial comparing Vernakalant to amiodarone in
post-cardiac surgery patients with a primary outcome of cardioversion at 90 minutes.
Secondary outcomes will follow duration of vasoactive medications, days in ICU and economics.