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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2023; 71(04): 291-296
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1750787
Original Cardiovascular

Atrial Fibrillation after Coronary Bypass Surgery? Is Epicardial Fat a Risk Factor?

Adnan Yalçınkaya 
1   Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hitit University Faculty of Medicine, Corum, Turkey
,
Nurdan Fidan
2   Department of Radiology, Hitit University Faculty of Medicine, Corum, Turkey
,
Engin Sarı
2   Department of Radiology, Hitit University Faculty of Medicine, Corum, Turkey
,
Sertan Özyalçın
1   Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hitit University Faculty of Medicine, Corum, Turkey
,
Adem İlkay Diken
1   Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hitit University Faculty of Medicine, Corum, Turkey
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Abstract

Backgrounds Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is one of the most common complication of cardiac surgery. Epicardial fat tissue may play a role in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to evaluate relationship between epicardial fat volume (EFV) and the appearance of new-onset AF in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with normal echocardiographic functions.

Methods Between January 2017 and June 2020, 281 coronary artery disease patients undergone isolated CABG surgery with normal echocardiographic functions were included in the study. Patient characteristics, medical history, and perioperative variables were retrospectively collected. Patients with AF predisposition factors were excluded.

Results Sixty-seven patients (23.8%) developed postoperatively AF during hospital stay. In univariate analysis, patients with postoperative AF were older compared with sinus rhythm patients (60.78 ± 9.03 vs. 65.46 ± 9.22, p = 0.001). There are no statistically significant differences between groups and EFV compared (107.78 ± 41.04 vs. 106.66 ± 34.98 p = 0.84). Large left atrial diameter, female patient, cardiopulmonary bypass and longer cross-clamp time showed correlation between POAF without statistical significance.

Conclusion Aging is the only associated factor with AF in this study. There was no EFV difference between POAF and non-AF groups in patients undergoing isolated CABG with normal echocardiographic functions.

Keywords

coronary artery bypass grafts surgery - CABG - arrhythmia therapy - cardiac anatomy/pathologic anatomy


Publication History

Received: 08 December 2021

Accepted: 14 April 2022

Article published online:
27 July 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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