Objective: : We determined the incidence and the predisposing factors of atrial fibrillation (AF) after aorta nontouch coronary artery bypass grafting without extracorporeal circulation.
Methods: : From February 2001 to November 2005, 1359 patients (1159 men, 85.3%) of mean (±SD) age 64.8 (±9.8) years, who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OP-CAB), were prospectively enrolled. Demographics, perioperative data, and comorbidities were recorded in all patients. A 24-hour rhythm monitoring was performed in all patients until hospital discharge.
Results: : Among 1359 patients, 273 (20.1%) had development of atrial fibrillation in the early postoperative period. Patients with AF had higher mean (±SD) age, 68.3 (±8.8) years, compared with control subjects [63.9 (±9.9)] (P ≤ 0.0005). Univariate analysis showed that apart from age, history of arterial hypertension (P ≤ 0.02), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P ≤ 0.02), and the use of bilateral internal mammary arteries (P ≤ 0.01) were predisposing factors for the development of AF. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, history of arterial hypertension, and the use of bilateral internal mammary arteries were predisposing factors for early postoperative AF after OP-CAB.
Conclusions: : Atrial fibrillation occurred in approximately 20% of patients undergoing OP-CAB, mainly in older patients with arterial hypertension who received bilateral internal mammary artery grafts.