title: Fibrillation in patients subjected to coronary artery bypass grafting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atrial fibrillation is the most frequently encountered postoperative arrhythmic complication after coronary artery bypass grafting. Ischemic preconditioning has proved a potent endogenous factor in suppressing ischemia-reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. The protective effect of ischemic preconditioning on atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting has not been studied. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether ischemic preconditioning had an effect on postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized into ischemic preconditioning and control groups. Holter data from 24-hour electrocardiography were collected 1 day before the operation to the second postoperative day. Atrial fibrillation was registered as positive if any atrial fibrillation event occurred.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation and sustained atrial fibrillation was 34.1% and 27.1%, respectively. The occurrence of atrial fibrillation was significantly lower in the ischemic preconditioning group (21.4% in patients undergoing ischemic preconditioning and 46.5% in control subjects, P =.015). Preoperative recent unstable angina did not influence the incidence of atrial fibrillation. Patients with atrial fibrillation had longer intensive care unit stays and compromised postoperative hemodynamic outcomes. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that ischemic preconditioning, preoperative mean heart rate, and postoperative pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were the independent predictors of atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postcoronary artery bypass grafting atrial fibrillation is associated with more complicated postoperative outcome. Higher preoperative heart rate and postoperative pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were the independent predictors of atrial fibrillation. Recent unstable angina is not related to the occurrence of postcoronary artery bypass grafting atrial fibrillation. Ischemic preconditioning significantly suppresses postcoronary artery bypass grafting atrial fibrillation, suggesting that ischemic preconditioning can be used as an effective prophylactic method for postoperative atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: Zhong-Kai
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iivainen
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pehkonen
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laurikka
authors.forename: Sijian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Matti R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tarkka
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019157:Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial / Q000379:methods*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric