Landiolol for managing post-operative atrial fibrillation

Landiolol for Treatment of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Critical Care: A Systematic Review

Background: new-onset atrial fibrillation remains a common complication in critical care settings, often necessitating treatment when the correction of triggers is insufficient to restore hemodynamics. The treatment strategy includes electric cardioversion in cases of hemodynamic instability and either rhythm control or rate control in the absence of instability. Landiolol, an ultrashort beta-blocker, effectively controls heart rate with the potential to regulate rhythm. Objectives This review aims to compare the efficacy of landiolol in controlling heart rate and converting to sinus rhythm in the critical care setting. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of the published literature from 2000 to 2022 describing the use of landiolol to treat atrial fibrillation in critical care settings, excluding both cardiac surgery and medical cardiac care settings. The primary outcome assessed was sinus conversion following landiolol treatment. Results: Our analysis identified 17 publications detailing the use of landiolol for the treatment of 324 critical care patients. While the quality of the data was generally low, primarily comprising non-comparative studies, landiolol consistently demonstrated similar efficacy in controlling heart rate and facilitating conversion to sinus rhythm in both non-surgical (75.7%) and surgical (70.1%) settings. The incidence of hypotension associated with landiolol use was 13%. Conclusions: The use of landiolol in critical care patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation exhibited comparable efficacy and tolerance in both non-surgical and surgical settings. Despite these promising results, further validation through randomized controlled trials is necessary.

An Overview of the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Landiolol (an Ultra-Short Acting β1 Selective Antagonist) in Atrial Fibrillation

Landiolol is an ultra-short-acting, selective β1-adrenergic receptor blocker that was originally approved in Japan for the treatment of intraoperative tachyarrhythmias. It has gained attention for its use in the management of tachyarrhythmias and perioperative tachycardia, especially atrial fibrillation for both cardiac and non-cardiac surgeries. It can be the ideal agent for heart rate control due to its high β1-selectivity, potent negative chronotropic effect, a limited negative inotropic potential, and an ultrashort elimination half-life (around 4 min); moreover, it may have a potential therapeutic effects for sepsis and pediatric patients. Landiolol seems to be superior to other short-acting and selective beta-blockers such as esmolol. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of landiolol, a new ultra-short-acting β1 selective antagonist, including its pharmacology, clinical applications, efficacy, safety profile, and future directions in research and clinical data.

Intravenous landiolol for the prevention of atrial fibrillation after aortic root, ascending aorta, and aortic arch surgery: A propensity score-matched analysis

Objective

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery is associated with increased mortality. The efficacy of landiolol hydrochloride for POAF prevention after coronary artery bypass grafting procedure and valve surgery has been reported. However, little evidence is available on its role in POAF prevention after aortic root, ascending aorta, and aortic arch surgery. This study aimed to determine the association between intravenous landiolol and the incidence of POAF after these aortic surgeries.

Methods

We included 358 consecutive adult patients without preoperative atrial fibrillation who underwent aortic root, ascending aorta, and aortic arch surgery between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2018, at our institution. The therapeutic influence of landiolol in preventing POAF was estimated by propensity score-matched analysis (n = 222). The primary end point was the incidence of POAF within 72 hours after surgery. The secondary end points included adverse clinical events such as 30-day mortality and symptomatic cerebral infarction.

Results

The median age of the cohort was 72 years, 68.5% were men, and 46.4% received postoperative oral or transdermal β-blockers. After minimizing differences in patient background by propensity score matching, the incidence of POAF in the landiolol group was significantly lower than that in the reference group (18.9% vs 38.7%; P = .002). Landiolol use was associated with reduced incidence of POAF (odds ratio, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.21 to −0.72; P = .003). There were no significant differences in secondary end points.

Conclusions

Intravenous landiolol was associated with a lower incidence of POAF after aortic root, ascending aorta, and aortic arch surgery.

OUP accepted manuscript

Rate and rhythm control are still considered equivalent strategies for symptom control using the Atrial Fibrillation Better Care algorithm recommended by the recent atrial fibrillation guideline. In acute situations or critically ill patients, a personalized approach should be used for rapid rhythm or rate control. Even though electrical cardioversion is generally indicated in haemodynamically unstable patients or for rapid effective rhythm control in critically ill patients, this is not always possible due to the high percentage of failure or relapses in such patients. Rate control remains the background therapy for all these patients, and often rapid rate control is mandatory. Short and rapid-onset-acting beta-blockers are the most suitable drugs for acute rate control. Esmolol was the classical example; however, landiolol a newer very selective beta-blocker, recently included in the European atrial fibrillation guideline, has a more favourable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile with less haemodynamic interference and is better appropriate for critically ill patients.

[Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Risk Factors, Prevention and Treatment]

This review focuses on the issue of atrial fibrillation (AF) following coronary bypass surgery in patients with ischemic heart disease. Risk factors of this complication are discussed in detail. The authors addressed the effect of diabetes mellitus on development of postoperative AF. Data on current methods for prevention and treatment of AF are provided.

Effect of lidocaine with adrenaline and landiolol on hemodynamics in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Administration of local anesthetics with adrenaline can cause tachycardia and hypertension. This study assessed whether combined administration of landiolol with adrenaline and lidocaine would induce local anesthesia without causing hemodynamic changes. Normal saline (NS), lidocaine with adrenaline (LA), and lidocaine with adrenaline and landiolol (LLA) were injected into Wistar Kyoto (WKY/Izm) or spontaneously hypertensive (SHR/Izm) rats, followed by measurement of the pulse rate (PR), and the systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures (SBP, DBP and MBP). In the LLA group, the increase in PR was significantly suppressed in both SHR/Izm and WKY/Izm rats relative to those in the LA group. Although SBP was significantly reduced in WKY/Izm rats given LLA, relative to those given NS or LA, it was elevated in SHR/Izm rats given LLA. Landiolol-induced changes in PR may be due to blockade of adrenaline-induced β₁ receptor stimulation, which suppresses cardiac hyperactivity, whereas the early surge of blood pressure in SHR/Izm rats given LLA may be due to the dominant alpha-adrenergic effects of β₁ receptor inhibition. The anti-adrenergic effects of LLA were safe and effective in WKY/Izm rats, although the unexpected early hypertensive surge in SHR/Izm rats indicates the need for caution.

Landiolol hydrochloride for prevention of atrial fibrillation during esophagectomy: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction

Landiolol hydrochloride reduces the incidence of perioperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in cardiac surgery; however, little evidence is available regarding its effects in other types of surgery, including esophagectomy. We assessed the hypothesis that landiolol reduces perioperative AF and other complications associated with esophagectomy.

Methods

This single-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study enrolled patients scheduled for esophagectomy. Patients were divided into those given landiolol at 3 μg/kg/min or placebo for 24 h. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who developed AF within 96 h starting at 9:00 am on the day of surgery. The secondary outcomes were the proportion of patients whose AF appeared within 24 h, other complications based on the Clavien–Dindo classification, and the intensive care unit and hospital stays.

Results

Despite early study termination, 80 patients were screened, and 56 were enrolled (28/group) from September 2016 to June 2018. AF occurred within 96 h of surgery in six (21.4%) patients in the landiolol group and five (17.9%) patients in the placebo group (odds ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.33–4.7) and within 24 h of surgery in three (10.7%) patients in the landiolol group and two (7.1%) patients in the placebo group. There were no significant differences in the incidence of complications or in the number of intensive care unit or hospital stays between the groups.

Conclusion

Although our small sample size prevents definitive conclusions, landiolol might not reduce the occurrence of AF or other complications.

Trial registration

UMIN, UMIN000024040. Registered 13 September 2016, http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index/htm

Evaluating the Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Landiolol Hydrochloride for Management of Arrhythmia in Critical Settings: Review of the Literature

Background

Landiolol hydrochloride, a highly cardio-selective beta-1 blocker with an ultra-short-acting half-life of 4 minutes, was originally approved by Japan for treatment of intraoperative tachyarrhythmias. This review aims to provide an integrated overview of the current state of knowledge of landiolol hydrochloride in the management of arrhythmia in critical settings.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library to retrieve relevant articles with a total of 65 records identified.

Results

The high β1 selectivity (β1/β2 ratio of 255:1) of landiolol causes a more rapid heart rate (HR) decrease compared to esmolol while avoiding decreases in mean arterial blood pressure. Recently, it has been found useful in left ventricular dysfunction patients and fatal arrhythmia requiring emergency treatment. Recent random clinical trials (RCT) have revealed therapeutic and prophylactic effects on arrhythmia, and very low-dose landiolol might be effective for preventing postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) and sinus tachycardia. Likewise, landiolol is an optimal choice for perioperative tachycardia treatment during cardiac surgery. The high β1 selectivity of landiolol is useful in heart failure patients as a first-line therapy for tachycardia and arrhythmia as it avoids the typical depression of cardiac function seen in other β-blockers. Application in cardiac injury after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), protection for vital organs (lung, kidney, etc.) during sepsis, and stabilizing hemodynamics in pediatric patients are becoming the new frontier of landiolol use.

Conclusion

Landiolol is useful as a first-line therapy for the prevention of POAF after cardiac/non-cardiac surgery, fatal arrhythmias in heart failure patients and during PCI. Moreover, the potential therapeutic effect of landiolol for sepsis in pediatric patients is currently being explored. As positive RCT results continue to be published, new clinical uses and further clinical studies in various settings by cardiologists, intensivists and pediatric cardiologists are being conducted.

Urgent Control of Rapid Atrial Fibrillation by Landiolol in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure With Severely Reduced Ejection Fraction

Background: We investigated the clinical usefulness of landiolol for rapid atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and identify the patients eligible for landiolol.

Methods and Results: A total of 101 ADHF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) with rapid AF were enrolled. Immediately after admission, an initial dose of landiolol was given (1 μg/kg⁻¹/min⁻¹), and then the dose was increased to decrease heart rate (HR) to <110 beats/min and change HR (∆HR) >20% in ≤24 h. Thirty-seven were monitored using right heart catheterization at 3 points (baseline, 1 μg/kg⁻¹/min⁻¹, and maximum dose). We checked the major adverse events (MAE) during initial hospitalization, which included cardiac death, HF prolongation (required i.v. treatment at 30 days), and worsening renal function. The average maximum dose of landiolol was 3.8±2.3 μg/kg⁻¹/min⁻¹. HR (P<0.0001) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (P=0.0008) decreased safely. MAE occurred in 39 patients. The patients with left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume index <84.0 mL/m² and mean blood pressure (mean BP) >97 mmHg had less frequent MAE (P<0.0001).

Conclusions: Landiolol was effective for safely controlling rapid AF in patients with HFrEF with ADHF, leading to hemodynamic improvement and avoidance of short-term MAE, especially in patients with relatively smaller LV and higher BP.

Landiolol: pharmacology and its use for rate control in atrial fibrillation in an emergency setting

This article provides new insight on landiolol, an ultra-short acting injectable betablocker, recently approved in Europe, with regard to its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile, along with its first experience in Caucasian healthy volunteers and patients with atrial fibrillation. Landiolol as iv formulation exhibited in an emergency setting rapid rate reduction in patients with tachycardic atrial fibrillation without pronounced blood pressure drop both in caucasian and asian populations in similar manner.

Landiolol for managing atrial fibrillation in post-cardiac surgery

Landiolol is an intravenous ultra-short acting beta-blocker which has been used in Japan for many years to prevent and/or to treat post-operative atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery. The drug is now available in Europe. This article is a systematic review of literature regarding the use of landiolol in that specific surgical setting.