role of surface ECG and transthoracic echocardiography for predicting postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery

To evaluate the roles of surface electrocardiogram ECG and transthoracic echocardiography ECHO for prediction of atrial fibrillation AF after coronary artery bypass grafting CABG. This study was conducted from 2002-2004 at the Cardiovascular Department of Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Seventy consecutive patients were enrolled in this study that underwent elective CABG. A 12-lead ECG was recorded one day before cardiac surgery and was repeated during the 5 days after CABG. P-wave dispersion PWD was defined as the difference between maximum and minimum P-wave duration. Differences in P-wave duration were compared between the pre- and postoperative 12-lead ECG measurements. Postoperative AF developed in 17 24% cases of 70 patients. The PWD was found to be significantly higher in patients with AF preoperatively 60 +/- 19 versus 47 +/- 13, p=0.003, postoperative first day 56 +/- 12 versus 44 +/- 11, p<0.002 and fifth day 51 +/- 29 versus 41 +/- 11, p<0.001. Patients with AF were significantly older, the mean age of the AF group was 68 +/- 7 years and of the sinus rhythm SR group was 59 +/- 10 years p<0.001. The AF group had left ventricular systolic dysfunction 56 +/- 13% versus 56 +/- 8%, p=0.042, preoperatively; 49 +/- 8% versus 60 +/- 10%, p=0.001, postoperatively and a larger left atrium 46 +/- 5 versus 39 +/- 5 mm, p<0.001, preoperatively and 44 +/- 7 versus 39 +/- 5 mm, p=0.046, postoperatively than the SR group. This prospective study demonstrated that PWD on surface ECG and additional echocardiographic parameters are simple and reliable indexes to predict the development of AF after CABG

Heat shock protein 60 antibody. a new marker for subsequent atrial fibrillation development

To examined the pre-and post-operative anti-HSP60 antibodies of serum from patients in preoperative sinus rhythm. We prospectively studied 45 consecutive patients admitted for elective CABG from 2004 to 2005. We randomly selected 10 patients developing AF [study sample [Group A]] and 10 postoperative patients without AF [control [Group B]. The study took place at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Anti-HSP60 IgG value was 27.76 +/- 12.69 absorbance units [AU] in Group A preoperatively and decreased to 13.73 +/- 5.51 AU postoperatively. Controversially, preoperative value of anti-HSP60 IgG was 9.94 +/- 2.92 AU and decreased to 6.72 +/- 1.89 AU, postoperatively in Group B. Statistical analysis showed significant difference regarding preoperative anti-HSP60 IgG levels in Group A compared to Group B, which might be interpreted as an association between postoperative AF and preoperative levels of anti-HSP60 IgG. We provide the first evidence demonstrating the association of pre-and post-operative circulating anti-HSP60 antibodies with postoperative AF. These results suggest that serum HSP60 antibody levels may be a marker for subsequent development of AF

effect of halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane and propofol infusion on renal function after coronary artery bypass surgery

Renal insufficiency after cardiac surgery is associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and length of stay in the intensive care unit. We investigated the effect of isoflurane, halothane, sevoflurane and propofol anesthesia on perioperative renal function following elective coronary artery surgery. The medical records of 224 patients, in the Hacettepe University Medical Faculty Hospital who had undergone cardiac surgery in one year, were retrospectively reviewed. 65 [29%] patients received isoflurane, 68 [30%] patients received halothane, 64 [29%] patients received sevoflurane, and 27 [12%] patients received propofol infusion as part of maintenance anesthesia for coronary artery bypass surgery. Patient characteristics [age, sex, preoperative ejection fraction], operative data [duration of CPB, duration of operation, number of distal anastomoses, usage of diuretic, intraoperative crystalloid and blood transfusion], intraoperative urinary output, preoperative and postoperative [6th hours and 24th hours] BUN and plasma creatinine levels, were not statistically significant between and within groups. Intraoperative inotropic agent [dopamine] was used in 8 [12.3%] patients in the isoflurane group, in 10 [14.7%] patients in the halothane group, in 11 [17.2%] patients in sevoflurane group and in 9 [33.3%] patients in the propofol group. Postoperatively fluid and blood transfusion, postoperative drainage, urinary output, diuretic usage were smiliar between the four groups [p>0,05]. Inotropic agent was used in 8 [12.3%] patients in the isoflurane group, in 9 [13.2%] patients in the halothane group, in 16 [25%] patients in the sevoflurane group and in 7 [25.9%] patients in the propofol group. It is concluded that, halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane and propofol infusion anesthesia as part of anesthesia maintenance for elective coronary artery bypass surgery does not affect early postoperative renal functions