Effect of landiolol hydrochloride on tachyarrhythmia after esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of landiolol hydrochloride, a newly developed ultra-short-acting β1-selective blocker, for postoperative tachyarrhythmia after esophagectomy.

METHODOLOGY: In total 231 patients underwent transthoracic esophagectomy at the Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine from 2007 to 2012. Twenty-four patients who were treated with either landiolol hydrochloride (n = 11) or conventional agents (combination of calcium channel blocker and digitalis preparation; control group, n = 13) for postoperative tachyarrhythmia after transthoracic esophagectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Tachyarrhythmia was defined as a heart rate of >120 bpm or atrial fibrillation. Hemodynamic changes, conversion rates, and adverse events were evaluated.

RESULTS

The reduction in the heart rate at 1 h after medication was seen significantly more frequent in the landiolol group than in the control group. The time to conversion to sinus rhythm was also significantly shorter in the landiolol group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in blood pressure either before or after the medication. One patient in the landiolol group showed hypotension and bradycardia, without serious consequences.

CONCLUSIONS

Landiolol hydrochloride can be effectively and safely used in patients who develop tachyarrhythmia after esophagectomy.