Study of Atorvastatin Versus Placebo to Reduce Cardiopulmonary Complications After Thoracic Surgery

This study will compare atorvastatin (Lipitor) with a placebo (inactive pill) to see if this drug reduces heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias) or lung inflammation after thoracic surgery. Preliminary results suggest that cholesterol lowering drugs (statins) may reduce problems after surgery such as arrhythmias or lung inflammation which may be serious. This study will be randomized and double blind, meaning that patients are placed in groups purely by chance, like flipping a coin. Neither the patient or doctor will know which group the patient is in.