Effect of ventral cardiac denervation in the incidence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of ventral cardiac denervation in the incidence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery.


METHODS
Between September and November, 50 patients without history or previous diagnosis of atrial arrhythmia from the same institution presenting coronary heart disease with indication for coronary artery graft bypass surgery were enrolled in a prospective and randomized study. The exclusion criteria were: patients older than 75 years of age, previous history of atrial arrhythmia and associated heart surgeries. Denervation was performed before cardiopulmonary bypass and it was achieved by removing the adipose tissues around the superior vena cava, aorta and pulmonary artery. The groups were compared regarding demographic, clinical and operative variables.


RESULTS
There were no hospital mortalities. The additional time for the denervation was 7.64+/-2.33 minutes, and there were no associated complications. Postoperative atrial fibrillation was present in two (8%) patients of the Control Group and in three (12%) patients who underwent ventral cardiac denervation. The risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing ventral cardiac denervation was 22% higher than in the Control Group (0.56-2.66,confidence interval); however, this outcome was not statistically significant (p=0.64).


CONCLUSIONS
Ventral cardiac denervation, despite being a fast and low-risk procedure, does not significantly reduce the incidence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Breda
João Roberto
JR
jrbreda@hotmail.com
Breda
Ana Silvia Castaldi Ragognetti
AS
Freitas
Andréa Cristina Oliveira
AC
Meneghini
Adriano
A
Tavares
Carlos Mendes
CM
Abreu
Luís Carlos de
LC
Murad
Neif
N
Pires
Adilson Casemiro
AC
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009121:Muscle Denervation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome