Aim 1: Primary Prevention of Post-operative Cardiac Arrhythmias
1. To evaluate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine vs. the combination of Magnesium Sulfate and
dexmedetomidine for the prevention of post-operative cardiac arrhythmias in children and
young adults undergoing open heart surgical repair for congenital or acquired heart
disease using cardiopulmonary bypass. Dexmedetomidine is currently being administered to
almost all patients after coming off cardiopulmonary bypass and in the CICU. For this
aim, the investigator will be comparing dexmedetomidine administered alone or in
combination with Magnesium Sulfate.
2. To evaluate medication safety based on the frequency of Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)
and Adverse Events (AEs)
Aim 2: Secondary treatment of those Patients that develop a clinically significant arrhythmia
despite having received either Dexmedetomidine alone or Magnesium Sulfate with
Dexmedetomidine at the time of cardiac surgery
1. To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous (IV) Amiodarone vs. IV Procainamide for the
control of postoperative cardiac arrhythmias developing after the failure of Stage 1,
Preventative Trial. IV amiodarone and IV procainamide are standardly used treatment
agents for the treatment of postoperative cardiac arrhythmias in this setting. The
investigator will be assessing the comparative effectiveness of these agents in
controlling post-operative cardiac arrhythmias.
2. To evaluate antiarrhythmic medication safety based on the frequency of SAEs and AEs