Total pulmonary vein diameter is a strong predictor of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have shown that the pulmonary veins are important in atrial fibrillation (AF). This study evaluated the relationship between total pulmonary vein diameter and postoperative AF in on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our study enrolled 149 patients undergoing on-pump CABG. The primary endpoint was defined as postoperative new-onset in-hospital AF. All patients underwent preoperative non-contrast tomography to measure pulmonary vein diameter. RESULTS: The patients who developed AF had significantly greater total pulmonary vein diameters than those who remained in sinus rhythm. Logistic multivariate regression analysis revealed that only total pulmonary vein diameter was an independent predictor of the development of new-onset AF. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report of an association between total pulmonary vein diameter and the development postoperative AF. The identification of high-risk patients using pulmonary vein diameters should facilitate preventive measures.

[The relation between infarction localization and late potentials]. / Infarktüs lokalizasyonu ile geç potansiyel arasindaki iliski.

OBJECTIVE: There are controversies about the relation between infarction localization and late potentials (LP) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). To evaluate this issue 124 consecutive patients with first Q-wave AMI fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this signal--averaged ECG (SAECG) study. METHODS: The patients were divided into three groups according to infarction localization: anterior (Group I n = 62; 50%), inferior (Group II: n = 42; 34%) and both inferior and right ventricular (RV) involvement (Group III n = 20; 16%). SAECG records were performed during the second week. LP results were evaluated as positive when at least two of the major criteria (QRS > 114 ms, LAS 40 > 38 ms, RMS < 20 V) were obtained. Tukey--Cramer multivariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: Positive LP results were obtained in 29% of group I, 35.7% of group II and 55% of group III patients. Patients with both inferior and RV involvement had a significantly higher positive LP results independent from left ventricular ejection fraction. CONCLUSION: Therefore, increased risk of arrhythmia in those patients with both inferior MI localization and RV involvement should be taken into consideration.