Prophylactic nitroglycerin did not reduce myocardial ischemia during accelerated recovery management of coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients

Objective: To evaluate the use of a high dose of nitroglycerin (NTG) for pr ophylaxis against myocardial ischemia and infarction in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery with accelerated recovery. Design: Prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study. Setting: A university-based medical center. Participants: Forty adult patients presenting for elective CABG surgery. Interventions: Forty patients were divided into 2 blinded study groups. Twe nty patients received 2 mu g/kg/min of NTG starting before induction of ane sthesia and continuing for 6 hours after extubation in the intensive care u nit. The placebo group (n = 20) received normal saline during this same int erval. Measurements and Main Results: Hemodynamics, incidence and severity of myoc ardial ischemia, and myocardial infarction rates were determined. There wer e no differences in hemodynamic parameters between groups. The incidence of ischemia was approximately 35% in each group. Myocardial infarction (as de termined by elevated creatine kinase-MB fraction, troponin I, and electroca rdiogram criteria) was 10% in the placebo group and 5% in the NTG group (p = 0.234). Conclusions: This study shows a high incidence of myocardial ischemia and i nfarction in patients presenting for CABG surgery with an accelerated recov ery management scheme. NTG was well tolerated clinically; however, it was n ot found to be protective against myocardial ischemia or infarction in this setting. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.