Prevention of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation (POAF) Using Intra-Pericardial Amiodarone

"The first three patient will receive 600 mg amiodarone into the intact pericardial space. Amiodarone serum levels will be tested at post operative days 2 and 6. The study will only proceed if there is a serum amiodarone level less than 25% of the normal therapeutic level. This should insure lack of systemic toxicity. After the first 3 patients have demonstrated low amiodarone blood levels, a total of up to 60 patients will be enrolled in the study.~The CardiaMend patch will saturated per the instructions and be sutured into place. Amiodarone will be dripped directly over the heart."