title: Ventricular tachyarrhythmia after coronary bypass surgery: incidence and outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ventricular tachyarrhythmia after coronary artery bypass graft is common and the occurrence has been described, but the incidence and risk factors are not well defined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the incidence of arrhythmias and to detect high-risk populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, 856 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft were monitored for new-onset ventricular tachyarrhythmias: non-sustained monomorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmia, sustained monomorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmia, sustained polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmia, and ventricular fibrillation. Detailed analyses of the clinical, demographic, echocardiographic, and surgical findings and arrhythmias occurrence was carried out during 6 months of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of ventricular tachyarrhythmia was 26.6% (17.6% non-sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, 5.5% sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, 0.8% sustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, and 2.7% ventricular fibrillation). The strongest degrees of statistical significance were for low ejection fraction (p = 0.01) and ischemic heart disease (p = 0.02). The incidence of ventricular fibrillation (61%) was greatest in the first 48 h after surgery. Postoperative myocardial infarction (p = 0.03) and hemodynamic instability (p = 0.05) were also predictors of arrhythmia occurrence. Recurrence of arrhythmia was highest in the ventricular fibrillation group (52%). The correlations between tachyarrhythmia, age, sex, electrolyte disorders, body mass index, and systemic or pulmonary hypertension were not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of the strong relationship between ventricular arrhythmias and low ejection fraction, ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease severity, postoperative myocardial infection, and hemodynamic impairment, continuous monitoring is necessary, especially in the first 48 h after coronary artery bypass surgery.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Electrophysiology Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical and Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sadr-Ameli
authors.forename: Abolfath
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
authors.forename: Valiollah
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ghasemi
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heidarali
mesh_terms: D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Arrhythmias; coronary artery bypass; intra-aortic balloon pump; ischemic heart disease; myocardial infarction; postoperative complications