Atrial fibrillation after operation for lung cancer: clinical and prognostic significance.
BACKGROUND
Atrial fibrillation is a common complication of early postoperative period in lung cancer thoracotomy. Its clinical incidence and short- and long-term impact on overall mortality has never been definitely assessed; moreover, it is unclear whether the arrhythmia represents an independent cardiac risk factor.


METHODS
We prospectively studied 233 consecutive patients undergoing operation for lung cancer (170 with non-small-cell lung cancer). Postoperative atrial fibrillation incidence was related to different clinical factors possibly involved in its occurrence and to both short- and long-term survival.


RESULTS
Atrial fibrillation occurred in 28 patients (12%) (same percentage in non-small-cell lung cancer); a strong relationship was observed between arrhythmia and age, history of hypertension and associated lymph node resection. The mean hospitalization time was 14 +/- 4 days in patients developing atrial fibrillation and 13 +/- 4 days in those who did not (p = not significant). No difference was observed between the two groups with regard to short- or long-term mortality or to long-term atrial fibrillation recurrences, also when considering the entire population and only non-small-cell lung cancer, separately.


CONCLUSIONS
At our institution, early atrial fibrillation occurrence after operation for lung cancer does not show any negative impact on short- and long-term mortality or on recurrence rate.
Cardinale
D
D
Cardiology Unit and Thoracic Surgery Division, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, University of Milan, Italy. dcardinale@ieo.cilea.it
Martinoni
A
A
Cipolla
C M
CM
Civelli
M
M
Lamantia
G
G
Fiorentini
C
C
Mezzetti
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013908:Thoracotomy