PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
I. To evaluate the effect of prophylactic amiodarone on the rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE).
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. In each subobjective, below, evaluations of the effects of prophylactic amiodarone on the following will be made:
* Ia. Postoperative (PostOp) rapid ventricular response;
* Ib. Postop pulmonary complications;
* Ic. Postop anastomotic leak;
* Id. Intensive care unit (ICU) readmission;
* Ie. ICU length of stay (LOS);
* If. Hospital LOS;
* Ig. 30-day readmission;
* Ih. Inpatient mortality;
* Ii. 30-day mortality;
* Ij. Adverse events;
* Ik. Time to AF;
Il. Evaluating the association between therapeutic (or serum levels and the development of AF in the experimental group only.
EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:
I. To evaluate the effect of prophylactic amiodarone administration on hospital cost of care.
OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.
ARM I: Patients receive amiodarone hydrochloride intravenously (IV) for 4 days and then via a feeding tube for 3 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
ARM II: Patients receive placebo (normal saline) IV for 4 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Patients are followed for 60 days following discharge from hospitalization after MIE.
