Effect of temporary right atrial pacing in prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluated the effects of temporary atrial pacing to prevent the atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass graft surgery and the risk factors to the occurrence of this arrhytmia. METHODS: We have studied 160 patients who, at the end of coronary artery bypass graft surgery, were submitted to epicardial electrode implantation in the right atrium lateral wall. They were randomized into two groups: non-pacing (NP) group and right atrial (RA) pacing group. The cardiac rhythm was monitorized over 72 hours following to the end of surgery and the variables studied were as follow: incidence of atrial fibrillation; the risk factors pre-, intra-, and postoperative for its occurrence, and postoperative events. RESULTS: There were 21 (13.1%) episodes of atrial fibrillation, 20 in the NP group and one in the RA group. The relative risk (RR) for the development of atrial fibrillation was 0.18 (95% CI; 0.05-0.60) for the RA group when compared to the NP group. The logistic regression identified that the study variables, such as younger age; use of beta-blockers in the preoperative, and the presence of right atrial pacing had been associated to a lower Odds ratios (ORs) for the occurrence of atrial fibrillation in the postoperative. CONCLUSIONS: The temporary atrial pacing reduced the incidence of atrial fibrillation after the CABG surgery. Older age and a non-atrial pacing were the independent predictive factors of the occurrence of this arrhythmia.

Efeitos da estimulação temporária atrial direita na prevenção da fibrilação atrial no pós-operatório de revascularização do miocárdio com circulação extracorpórea / Effect of temporary right atrial pacing in prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da estimulação atrial direita temporária na prevenção da fibrilação atrial no pós-operatório de revascularização do miocárdio com circulação extracorpórea e identificar os fatores de risco para o aparecimento dessa arritmia. Método: Estudamos 160 pacientes que, ao término da cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica, submeteram-se ao implante de eletrodos epicárdicos...

Temporary atrial pacing in the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Since its prevention with prophylactic drug therapy has limited success, alternative approaches are desirable. This study examined the efficacy of atrial or biatrial pacing, compared with no pacing, on the incidence of AF after isolated CABG. METHODS: From August 2002 to September 2004, 240 patients underwent CABG. After surgery, right and left atrial epicardial pacing wires were implanted for 72 hours of temporary pacing. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: no pacing (control group), right atrial (RA), and biatrial (BiA) pacing. Cardiac rhythm was monitored continuously during intensive care, or daily on the ward. The primary endpoints of this study were an episode of AF occurring up to 72 hours after CABG and the risk factors correlated with this event. RESULTS: Atrial and BiA pacing significantly lowered the incidence (1.25% vs 25%, P = 0.001) of AF episodes, and were both correlated (odd ratio 0.038; 95% confidence interval 0.005-0.29) with a decrease in rates of postoperative AF. Multivariable analysis identified older age (odd ratio 1.074; 95% confidence interval 1.024-1.12) and no pacing as independent risk factors of postoperative AF. CONCLUSIONS: Temporary right atrial or biatrial pacing after CABG significantly decreased the postoperative incidence of AF. Multivariable analysis identified older age and no pacing as predictors of AF occurrence.