Atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting is associated with sympathetic activation

doi:10.1016/0003-4975(95)00718-0

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery

Volume 60, Issue 6, December 1995, Pages 1709-1715

https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-4975(95)00718-0 Get rights and content

BackgroundWe prospectively investigated the role of sympathetic activation in the etiology of atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods.

Continuous ambulatory monitoring was performed for 80 hours in 131 patients after coronary artery bypass grafting. Right atrial plasma norepinephrine levels were assessed preoperatively and every 4 hours for 48 hours postoperatively.

Results.

Of the 131 patients, 50% (65) had development of atrial fibrillation and 36% (47) required treatment. Onset of atrial fibrillation was preceded by a significant increase in sinus rate and atrial ectopic activity. On multivariate logistic regression, elevated mean postoperative norepinephrine levels (5.78 ± 2.83 versus 3.57 ± 1.31 nmol/L; p < 0.0001), increased age (68.9 ± 5.7 versus 63.8 ± 8.7 years; p = 0.02), and decreased postoperative magnesium levels (0.79 ± 0.09 versus 0.83 ± 0.10 mmol/L; p = 0.02) were independently associated with the occurrence of atrial fibrillation.

Conclusions.

Elevated norepinephrine levels suggest that sympathetic activation may be important in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting, and this underlines the importance of β-adrenoceptor blockade as prophylaxis.

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Original article: CardiovascularAtrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting is associated with sympathetic activation

Methods.

Results.

Conclusions.

Prog Cardiovasc Dis

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg

J Chromatogr

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth

Beta blocker therapy for supraventricular tachyarrhythmias after coronary surgery: a propranolol withdrawal syndrome?

Angiology

Safety and rationale for continuation of propranolol therapy during coronary bypass operation

Ann Thorac Surg

Effects of aging on catecholamine metabolism

J Clin Endocrinol Metab

Efficacy and safety of timolol for prevention of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias after coronary artery bypass surgery

Circulation

Original article: Cardiovascular
Atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting is associated with sympathetic activation