title: The risk of atrial fibrillation after pneumonectomy is not impaired by preoperative administration of dexamethasone. A cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most frequent complications occurring after thoracic surgery especially after lung resection. It is associated with an increase in postoperative morbidity and mortality. Recent data having documented the preventive role of corticosteroids on the occurrence of AF in cardiac surgery, we sought to evaluate the effect of preoperative administration of dexamethasone on the incidence of AF after pneumonectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the files of all consecutive patients who underwent a pneumonectomy in one single centre between July 2004 and July 2012. For each patient, demographics, medical status, the surgical procedure and treatments administered including dexamethasone, were recorded. The data were analysed using a univariate analysis and a multivariate logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among them, 153 patients were included and analysed; 35 (23%) presented with at least one episode of AF occurring within 48hours after surgery. Mortality was higher in these patients (26.5% versus 12.1%, P=0.06). The univariate analysis indicated that patients who had a postoperative course complicated by the occurrence of AF were older (P=0.003), had a higher SAPS2 score (P=0.002) and a higher CHADS score (P=0.05). Older age (OR=1.08; P=0.048) and preoperative treatment by anti-arrhythmics (OR=3.9; P=0.029) were documented as independent risk factors in the multivariate analysis. Preoperative administration of dexamethasone 8-12mg did not impair the incidence of AF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AF is a frequent complication after pneumonectomy associated with increased mortality. Whereas corticosteroids have been documented as preventing AF following cardiac surgery, no such effect was found after pneumonectomy.
authors.affiliation: Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie Paris VI, hôpital Tenon, groupe hospitalier universitaire Est-Parisien, 4, rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Sacha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rozencwajg
authors.affiliation: Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie Paris VI, hôpital Tenon, groupe hospitalier universitaire Est-Parisien, 4, rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desthieux
authors.affiliation: Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie Paris VI, hôpital Tenon, groupe hospitalier universitaire Est-Parisien, 4, rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Szymkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie Paris VI, hôpital Tenon, groupe hospitalier universitaire Est-Parisien, 4, rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Yacine
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ynineb
authors.affiliation: Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie Paris VI, hôpital Tenon, groupe hospitalier universitaire Est-Parisien, 4, rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fulgencio
authors.affiliation: Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie Paris VI, hôpital Tenon, groupe hospitalier universitaire Est-Parisien, 4, rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris cedex 20, France. Electronic address: Francis.bonnet@aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonnet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D003907:Dexamethasone
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Dexamethasone; Pneumonectomy; Postoperative complications; Thoracic surgery