title: Does Anterior Fat Pad Removal Reduce the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation after CABG? A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Several prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated the effect of intact and removed anterior fat pads on the incidence of AF after CABG with conflicting results. We collected these RCTs and conducted a meta-analysis to determine whether anterior fat pad removal is effective in preventing the new onset of AF after CABG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prospective RCTs were collected for analysis and the main outcomes include the occurrence of AF after CABG, total hospital stay, and major complications. Statistical analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.0.18 software (The Cochrane Collaboration), and pooled estimates of the effect were reported as risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences (MDs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The results of this meta-analysis indicate that anterior fat pad removal was not associated with a decreased risk of occurrence of AF after CABG (RR = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.88-2.03; P = 0.18), and it also did not increase the risk of major complications (RR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.75-1.47; P = 0.79) or lengthen total hospital stay (MD = 0.06, 95% CI: -0.46 to 0.58; P = 0.83) compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anterior fat pad removal did not decrease the risk of the occurrence of AF after CABG despite its safety and convenience, and it should not be used to prevent new-onset AF after CABG unless new evidence is provided.
authors: Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Shanxin
authors: S
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Yunyan
authors: Y
authors: Jing
authors: Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Juhong
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital,  School of Medicine,  Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Chang
authors: C
authors: Bian
authors: Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital,  School of Medicine,  Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Y U
authors: YU
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Xingwei
authors: X
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000601:surgery*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
keywords: anterior fat pad; atrial fibrillation; coronary artery bypass grafting