title: Lower preoperative fluctuation of heart rate variability is an independent risk factor for postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing major pulmonary resection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The following study presents a special independent atrial fibrillation (AF) risk factor-preoperative fluctuation of heart rate variability (HRV), as well as other perioperative AF risk factors in patients qualified for pneumonectomy and undergoing pneumonectomy or lobectomy for lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prospective study was performed in patients who had undergone anatomical resection for non-small-cell lung cancer. A total of 117 patients (92 men and 25 women) qualified for statistical research. In order to determine the risk factors, all patients were divided into two groups: Group A-98 patients without AF and Group B-19 patients with AF during the perioperative time. A number of different risk factors of AF have been analysed and further divided into preoperative, operative and postoperative.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative AF occurred in 19 patients (16%), all of them were male. The patients with higher short-term HRV parameters (SD1, RMSSD), slower mean heart rate and those with a lower fluctuation of HRV-related parameters (HRV Afternoon, Night, Day (A/N/D)) before the operation, were more prone to AF. Postoperative risk of AF was higher in patients with a higher number of ventricular ectopic beats before the operation, a higher number of supraventricular and ventricular ectopic beats and a higher maximal heart rate after the operation. Statistical analysis revealed that male gender and the extent of pulmonary resection, particularly left pneumonectomy, constituted significant risk factors. AF was more often observed in patients who had ASA physical status score of III, in comparison with ASAI and ASAII patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Along with other concomitant AF risk factors presented in this work, the evaluation of the fluctuation tendencies of HRV parameters should be taken into consideration before any major lung resection. The balance disturbance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems is responsible for AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciszewski
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tyczka
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nadolski
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roszak
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dyszkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Atrial fibrillation risk factors; Heart rate variability; Pulmonary resection