The relation between the appearance of atrial fibrillation and mechanical ventilation time after coronary artery by-pass surgery

RELATİON BETWEEN MECHANİCAL VENTİLATİON TİME AND ATRIALFIBRILLATION AFTER CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS URGERYVIII. SUMMARY:Objective: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most comman arrhythmiccomplication affecting morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG). The incidence of new- onset atrial fibrillation after this operation might alsobe affected by mechanical ventilation time. The aim of this study was to investigate therelation between the incidence of new onset atrial fibrillation and mechanical ventilationtime after CABG.Methods: Between September 2001 and February 2006, 832 patients underwentisolated CABG at Turgut Ozal Medical Center. Two hundred thirty two of thesepatients were extubated early (≤6 hours) (Group I), and the other 600 were extubatedlate (>6 hours) (Group II). The data were retrospectively analyzed.Results: Group I had a significantly lower incidence of atrial fibrillation aftercoronary artery bypass surgery (Group I, 8.6% vs Grup II, 15.4%; p=0.011). Group Ihad a significantly lower mean age, higher proportion of women, and higherproportions of patients with cronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unstable angina andalso had a significantly lower mean number of distal anastomosis and shorter meanaortic cross-clamp time (p=0.0001, p=0.0001, p=0.042, p=0.025, p=0.02, p=0.001,respectively). Mean mechanical ventilation time was 5.2 ± 0.8 hours in Group I, and9.1 ± 3.6 hours in Group II. Group II patients had a significantly longer mean ICU staythan the Group I patients (p=0.005).37Conclusion: Analysis of our data has shown that early extubation of patientsafter coronary artery surgery reduces the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation.However, to support our investigation and obtain more reliable evidence, prospectiverandomized controlled trials would be valuable.Key words: Atrial fibrillation, Coronary artery bypass surgery, Mechanicalventilation