Preoperative atrial fibrillation decreases event-free survival following cardiac surgery☆

Abstract

Preoperative atrial fibrillation is associated with increased late mortality and recurrent cardiovascular events post-cardiac surgery. Effective management strategies for atrial fibrillation need to be explored and may provide an opportunity to improve the long-term outcomes of cardiac surgical patients.

Ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation during coronary artery bypass grafting: 12 months’ follow-up through implantable loop recorder

“…The prevalence of AF in patients undergoing CABG without valve surgery varies from 1.7% to 7.2% [19,20]. There are not enough data concerning concomitant AF ablation during CABG without valve surgery, especially in patients with PAF.…”

The impact of preoperative atrial fibrillation on early and late mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting

“…Only patients who had permanent or multiple recurrent episodes during the last 6 months were included, which could have had an effect on the outcome [12]. In a recent report of Kalavrouziotis et al [20], increased late mortality and recurrent cardiovascular events after cardiac surgery was associated with preoperative AF. Patients with preoperative AF had a higher incidence of rehospitalisation after cardiac surgery than patients with preoperative SR.…”

“…Causes of re-hospitalisation in these patients were AF, stroke, congestive heart failure, acute coronary syndrome and coronary re-vascularisation. However, $20% of their patients had combined CABG and valve surgery [20].…”

Implantable loop recorder monitoring after concomitant surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF): insights from more than 200 continuously monitored patients

“…Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk for stroke, heart failure and reduced survival and has been reported as an independent risk factor for mortality after cardiac surgery [9][10][11]. Concomitant AF surgery is an established procedure with low risk-and excellent outcomes reported in literature [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”