title: Atrial fibrillation and changes in serum and urinary electrolyte levels after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our study was designed to assess the incidence of atrial fibrillation, changes in serum electrolyte concentrations and urinary electrolyte excretion following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 165 patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting surgery at the Department of Cardiac Surgery (Heart Center) during the period of 2004-2005 were enrolled. Serum K(+), Na(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cl(-), and P(-) concentrations were measured before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), on the arrival to an intensive care unit, and 15-18 hours after the surgery. Urinary excretion of K(+), Na(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cl(-), and P(-) was estimated 24 hours before the surgery, during the surgery, and 24 hours after the surgery. Cardiac rhythm was monitored throughout the study. All patients randomly were divided into the group 1 (n=55), which received magnesium sulphate infusion, and group 2 (n=110), which did not receive magnesium sulphate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall incidence of atrial fibrillation was 27.4%. The patients in the group 1 had significantly higher levels of serum magnesium before CPB and serum chloride after the surgery. Urinary magnesium and calcium excretion was significantly higher in the group 1 during and after the surgery. Before the surgery and 24 hours after the surgery, phosphate excretion was significantly higher in the group 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of atrial fibrillation after myocardial revascularization surgery remains high (27.4%). Serum electrolyte concentrations after myocardial revascularization varied within normal ranges. Magnesium sulphate infusion did not decrease the rate of postoperative atrial fibrillation during the early postoperative period in normomagnesemic patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biomedical Research, Heart Center, Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Milda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svagzdiene
authors.forename: Edmundas
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sirvinskas
authors.forename: Rimantas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benetis
authors.forename: Laima
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raliene
authors.forename: Violeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Simatoniene
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000652:urine; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002118:Calcium / Q000652:urine; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D004573:Electrolytes; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium