Evaluation of ventral cardiac denervation as a prophylaxis against atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the efficacy of ventral cardiac denervation as a prophylaxis against post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) atrial fibrillation (AF).


METHODS
Seventy consecutive patients who underwent CABG (group A) were compared to 70 consecutive subsequent patients who underwent CABG + ventral cardiac denervation (group B). Both groups were well-matched for age, gender, disease severity, LV function, Euro scores, Parsonnet scores, preoperative beta-blockers, Ca-channel blockers, digoxin, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. The same cardioplegia, bypass, and operation techniques were used in all cases. Denervation before initiating bypass increased operation time by approximately 5 minutes. Heart rate and rhythm were monitored by continuous telemetry until postoperative day 5 and then 4- hourly until discharge.


RESULTS
The cross-clamp time (p = 0.6), bypass time (p = 0.1), number of grafts (p = 0.9), inotrope usage (p = 0.4), reexploration rate (p = 1), postoperative myocardial infarction (none in either group), blood loss (p = 0.7), and length of stay (p = 0.8) were comparable in both groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of AF; 34% in group A versus 29% in group B (p = 0.3).


CONCLUSIONS
Ventral cardiac denervation failed to significantly reduce the incidence of AF following coronary revascularization in our study.
Alex
Joseph
J
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Castle Hill Hospital, Hull, United Kingdom. mrjosephalex@yahoo.co.uk
Guvendik
Levent
L
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009121:Muscle Denervation / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies