title: Postoperative arrhythmias in colorectal surgical patients: incidence and clinical correlates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence and clinical correlates of postoperative cardiac arrhythmias in patients undergoing elective large bowel resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one consecutive patients undergoing elective open colorectal resection were recruited for this prospective observational study. Participating patients underwent daily three-lead electrocardiograms postoperatively. Data regarding potential risk factors for arrhythmias were recorded. Post-operative complications were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen (26%) patients developed a postoperative arrhythmia, most commonly atrial fibrillation. Significant univariate correlates with postoperative arrhythmias were: age (P<0.01), hypertension (P<0.01), pre-operative serum potassium levels (P<0.01), postoperative pulmonary oedema (P=0.03), postoperative serum potassium (P=0.03) and sodium (P<0.01). Arrhythmia patients were more likely to have other complications (P=0.02). Thirty-one percent of arrhythmia patients had underlying sepsis compared with 18% of controls (P=0.38).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arrhythmias are common following elective large bowel resection. They occur in older patients and are associated with the development of other complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Arrowe Park Hospital, Upton, UK.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Oates
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Makin
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric