Risk factors for an intraoperative arrhythmia during esophagectomy.
OBJECTIVE
Arrhythmias after an esophagectomy (most commonly atrial fibrillation) are a significant contributing factor to patient morbidity. However, the significance of an intraoperative arrhythmia is not completely understood. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the occurrence and risk factors for developing intraoperative arrhythmias in patients undergoing an esophagectomy.


METHODS
We reviewed the records of 427 patients who underwent a transthoracic esophagectomy between 2001 and 2005. Variables such as age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, cardiac disease, preoperative pulmonary function test (PFT) results, cancer level, combined radiochemotherapy, intrathoracic cavity adhesions and anastomosis site, hemoglobin, central venous pressure (CVP), fluid balance, serum potassium level, dose of vasopressors, temperature, and combined general and epidural anesthesia were analyzed as risk factors for the occurrence of an arrhythmia. We defined this arrhythmia as one not originating from the sinus node.


RESULTS
The incidence of intraoperative arrhythmia in this subset of patients was 17.1%, with a 37.2% reoccurrence rate during the first three postoperative days. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed the presence of heart disease, poor PFTs, cervical anastomosis, elevated CVP, and higher ephedrine doses to be independent predictors of the development of an intraoperative arrhythmia.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of intraoperative arrhythmia during esophagectomy was 17.1% with a 37.2% of reoccurrence rate.
Hahm
Tae-Soo
TS
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, 50 Ilwon-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul 135-710, Korea.
Lee
Jeong-Jin
JJ
Yang
Mi-Kyung
MK
Kim
Jie-Ae
JA
D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors