The Incidence and Predictors of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Noncardiothoracic Surgery.
10.4070/kcj.2009.39.3.100
- Author:
Gwan Hyeop SOHN
1
;
Dae Hee SHIN
;
Kyung Min BYUN
;
Hye Jin HAN
;
Soo Jin CHO
;
Young Bin SONG
;
Jun Hyung KIM
;
Young Keun ON
;
June Soo KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Cardiology, Cardiac and Vascular Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yk.on@samsung.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Atrial fibrillation;
Surgery;
Postoperative complications
- MeSH:
Anesthesia, General;
Atrial Fibrillation;
Body Mass Index;
Cause of Death;
Electrocardiography;
Emergencies;
Female;
Hemorrhage;
Hospital Mortality;
Hospitalization;
Humans;
Incidence;
Male;
Medical Records;
Multivariate Analysis;
Pneumonia;
Postoperative Complications;
Prognosis;
Retrospective Studies
- From:Korean Circulation Journal
2009;39(3):100-104
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation after noncardiothoracic surgery is known to be very rare; there have been few prior studies on this topic. We evaluated the incidence, predictors, and prognosis of atrial fibrillation after noncardiothoracic surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent noncardiothoracic surgery at our medical center under general anesthesia were enrolled. We reviewed medical records retrospectively and evaluated whether the atrial fibrillation developed postoperatively or was pre-existing. Patients who had a previous history of atrial fibrillation or atrial fibrillation on the pre-operative electrocardiogram were excluded. RESULTS: Between January 2005 and December 2006, 7,756 patients (mean age: 69 years, male: 46%) underwent noncardiothoracic surgery in Samsung Medical Center and 30 patients (0.39%) were diagnosed with newly-developed atrial fibrillation. Patients who developed atrial fibrillation were significantly older and had significantly lower body mass indexes. Newly-developed atrial fibrillation was detected in 0.53% of the male patients and 0.26% of the female patients. The incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation after an emergency operation was more frequent than that of elective operations (p<0.001). According to the multivariate analysis, age and emergency operations were independent predictors for new onset atrial fibrillation after noncardiothoracic surgery. Postoperative atrial fibrillation developed after a median of 2 days after the noncardiothoracic surgery and was associated with a longer hospitalization and increased in-hospital mortality. Four (13.3%) patients died and the causes of death were non-cardiovascular events such as pneumonia or hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Postoperative atrial fibrillation after noncardiothoracic surgery is a rare complication and is associated with older age and emergency operations. Patients who develop atrial fibrillation have longer hospitalizations and higher in-hospital mortality rates.
