Relationship between atrial fibrilation and coronary bypass surgery

Abstract

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia seen after coronary artery surgery. The purpose this study was to determine incidence of AF that develops after coronary surgery and the factors affecting its development. Methods: Four hundred and forty eight patients who had coronary bypass surgery between February 2007 and September 2011 in the Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic were included in the study. Patients with history of chronic renal failure, redo coronary bypass surgery, valvular disease, thyroid disease, ventricular aneurysm and treatment with beta-blockers were excluded from the study of EF. Results: Two hundred and ninety nine patients were male and 149 were female and their age varied between 38 and 85 and their mean age was 61±5. Surgery was performed on beating heart on 178 patients and the others were operated with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Advanced age, male sex and history of hypertension was more in AF developed patient group. There was no difference between AF developed group and the other group in terms of diameter of left atrium, ejection fraction (EF), CPB time and cross clamp time. Conclusion: Advanced age, male sex, hypertension and prolonged P-wave duration are the factors that are associated with AF after coronary surgery. Avoidance of CPB does not decrease AF development.