Relationship Between Early Post-Pericardiotomy Syndrome and Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery

Abstract

Introduction: Post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) and post-pericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) are common complications of cardiac surgery. Both PPS and POAF are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, costs and length of stay after cardiac surgery. Inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of both PPS and POAF; however, the relationship between PPS and POAF remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between early PPS and POAF in patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Patients and Methods: Records of patients who underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 60 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with POAF were included in the study, while 142 consecutive patients who were not diagnosed with POAF were included as controls. Results: An early PPS development was significantly higher in patients with POAF than in patients without POAF (61.7% vs 45.8%, p= 0.04). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that patients with POAF had 1.9-times increased risk for developing early PPS (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.03-3.5; p= 0.04). Conclusion: This study showed that POAF was associated with an increased incidence of early PPS in patients who underwent isolated CABG surgery. Therefore, patients with POAF should be closely monitored for the occurrence of early PPS.