[Clinical investigation of arrhythmia appearing after resection for lung cancer].
BACKGROUND
Arrhythmia, especially atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication during the early postoperative period of thoracic surgery.


OBJECTIVE
To (1) characterize arrhythmia appearing after lung cancer resection, (2) evaluate risk factors for postoperative arrhythmia.


RESULTS
We retrospectively studied 131 patients who underwent primary lung cancer resection in our hospital between January 2005 and December 2006. The average age at diagnosis was 68 +/- 9 yr. Arrythmia occurred in 16 patients (11.3%) (12 AF, 1 PSVT, 2 PAC, 1 sinus bradycardia). Arrhythmia occurred at postoperative day 2.3 +/- 1.7 (mean, range 0 to 6), and improved in all cases within 3 days of onset either by treatment with antiarrhythmic agents or spontaneously.


CONCLUSIONS
AF was the most common arrhythmia (12/16 patients, 75%) among the complications associated with lung cancer resection. It was assumed that postoperative AF would be transient and improved by optimal management. Our data suggest that age (> or = 70-years-old) and operation time (> or = 300 min) were regarded as risk factors for postoperative arrhythmia.
Isobe
Zen
Z
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Gunma University School of Medicine.
Suga
Tatsuo
T
Ohta
Chie
C
Aoki
Yasuhiro
Y
Aoki
Fumiaki
F
Maeno
Toshitaka
T
Kurabayashi
Masahiko
M
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors