Atrial Fibrillation following CABG Surgery. Our Experience with 100 Patients

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common complication of cardiac surgery, occurring in 10-40% of patients. Postoperative AF (POAF) refers to new-onset AF in a patient without a history of AF that occurs within the first four weeks after cardiac surgery. While POAF can be transient and without consequences, it may lead to severe complications, increasing mortality and morbidity in the postoperative period. Risk factors can be patient-related, intraoperative, and postoperative. This study aimed to estimate the frequency of AF in patients after CABG combined with valvular replacement or not. Identification of patients vulnerable to arrhythmia will allow targeting of those most likely to benefit from prophylactic therapy.  Material and Methods: The presented study is a prospective study of 100 patients undergoing elective CABG from February to April 2022 with a mean age of 66 ± 13 years, 30% women, undergoing CABG at the University Hospital Centre “Mother Teresa” Tirana, that developed POAF. Results: Postoperative atrial fibrillation occurred in sixteen patients (16%) at a median of 3.7 days after cardiac surgery (2nd – 7th day). 94% (15) of POAF occurred in CABG only, and 6% (1) in the combined intervention (AVR et CABG). Conclusion: AF is the most common complication after CABG. The occurrence is not dependent on the type of intervention (only CABG or combined with valve replacement), the number of vessels that underwent bypass grafting, or the type of vessel. Electrolytic imbalance should be assessed during the postoperative course of patients who undergo CABG.