Tachycardia caused by increased sympathetic nerve activity after cardiovascular surgery can induce an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption and myocardial ischemia. β-Blockers are expected to reduce myocardial oxygen consumption, but traditional β-blockers are long acting so it is difficult to use after cardiovascular surgery. From January 2007 to September 2007, 24 out of 60 patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery were administered landiolol. The average heart rate before landiolol infusion was 99.5±16.5 bpm and decreased to 89.5±10.7 bpm after landiolol infusion (p=0.0008). Average systolic blood pressure before and after landiolol infusion was 109±16 mmHg and 103±13 mmHg, respectively (p=0.15). Average cardiac index (14 patients) before and after landiolol infusion was 3.29±0.83 l/min/m²and 3.26±0.9 l/min/m², respectively (p=0.75). Four patients (17%) had atrial fibrillation during these hospital stay, whereas 20 patients out of 50 patients (40%) who underwent cardiovascular surgery before landiolol was used (from June 2006 to January 2007) had atrial fibrillation (p=0.045). Landiolol can be effective and used safely after cardiovascular surgery.

Tachycardia caused by increased sympathetic nerve activity after cardiovascular surgery can induce an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption and myocardial ischemia. β-Blockers are expected to reduce myocardial oxygen consumption, but traditional β-blockers are long acting so it is difficult to use after cardiovascular surgery. From January 2007 to September 2007, 24 out of 60 patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery were administered landiolol. The average heart rate before landiolol infusion was 99.5±16.5 bpm and decreased to 89.5±10.7 bpm after landiolol infusion (p=0.0008). Average systolic blood pressure before and after landiolol infusion was 109±16 mmHg and 103±13 mmHg, respectively (p=0.15). Average cardiac index (14 patients) before and after landiolol infusion was 3.29±0.83 l/min/m²and 3.26±0.9 l/min/m², respectively (p=0.75). Four patients (17%) had atrial fibrillation during these hospital stay, whereas 20 patients out of 50 patients (40%) who underwent cardiovascular surgery before landiolol was used (from June 2006 to January 2007) had atrial fibrillation (p=0.045). Landiolol can be effective and used safely after cardiovascular surgery.