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Efficacy of prophylactic treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression after open-heart surgery

Surgery Today volume 41, pages 791–794 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in female patients at high risk of suffering depression after cardiac surgery.

Methods

Female patients (n = 58; group I) who were over 70 years of age or who had undergone emergency surgery were administered prophylactic treatment with paroxetine immediately after surgery. The hospital mortality and morbidity data of these patients were compared with those of 59 patients (group II) without prophylactic medication.

Results

The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score at 10 days after surgery was significantly lower in group I (15.2 ± 7.8) than in group II (21.8 ± 7.5, P = 0.0018). The incidence of depression (I: 12.1% vs II: 64.4%, P < 0.0001) and pneumonia (I: 0% vs II: 10.2%, P = 0.0127) were significantly lower in group I than in group II. In addition, the duration of postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter for group I than for group II (I: 15.9 ± 56.5 vs II: 23.4 ± 20.5 days, P = 0.0102). The hospital mortality rates were similar.

Conclusion

The quality of life of patients with depression after open-heart surgery is poor. The early administration of prophylactic medication is therefore necessary for those patients at risk for developing depression.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Ooyaguchi, Kamimachi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8610, Japan

    Mitsumasa Hata, Akira Sezai, Isamu Yoshitake, Shinji Wakui, Ayako Takasaka, Hideomi Kawachi, Tomohiko Murakami, Kazutomo Minami & Motomi Shiono

  2. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Ooyaguchi, Kamimachi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8610, Japan

    Yuko Yagi

Authors
  1. Mitsumasa Hata
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  2. Yuko Yagi
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  3. Akira Sezai
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  4. Isamu Yoshitake
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  5. Shinji Wakui
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  6. Ayako Takasaka
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  7. Hideomi Kawachi
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  8. Tomohiko Murakami
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  9. Kazutomo Minami
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  10. Motomi Shiono
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Hata, M., Yagi, Y., Sezai, A. et al. Efficacy of prophylactic treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression after open-heart surgery. Surg Today 41, 791–794 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-010-4357-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-010-4357-2

Key words

  • Open-heart surgery
  • Depression
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor