IMR Press / RCM / Volume 24 / Issue 12 / DOI: 10.31083/j.rcm2412370
Open Access Original Research
Evaluation of Perioperative Beta-Blockers and Factors Associated with Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation in Cardiac Surgery: A Single Center Experience
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1 George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
2 The Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation Târgu Mureș, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
3 Klinik für Herzchirurgie, Klinikum Passau, 94032 Passau, Germany
*Correspondence: marius.harpa@umfst.ro (Marius M. Harpa)
These authors contributed equally.
Rev. Cardiovasc. Med. 2023, 24(12), 370; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.rcm2412370
Submitted: 3 August 2023 | Revised: 4 September 2023 | Accepted: 14 September 2023 | Published: 27 December 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Perioperative Management in Cardiac Surgery)
Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) has a complex etiology, and beta-blockers are commonly recommended for its pharmacological prevention. This study aims to assess the impact of beta-blocker therapy on postoperative AF occurrence in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement, surgical revascularization of the myocardium, or a combination of these procedures. Methods: The study encompassed 472 patients who received aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement, surgical revascularization, or their combination. We evaluated the efficacy of preoperative and one-month postoperative beta-blocker administration in preventing postoperative AF, and the associated risk factors involved in the development of postoperative AF. Results: Of the total patient population, 36% experienced postoperative AF. Our study demonstrated a significant reduction in postoperative AF incidence among patients receiving beta-blocker treatment (all p-values < 0.05). Additionally, one-month post-surgery, beta-blocker treatment exerted a protective effect by maintaining the sinus rhythm (p = 0.0001). Regarding the risk factors involved in the development of postoperative AF, both age and left atrium (LA) sizeassessed pre-and postoperatively—were positively correlated with the occurrence of postoperative AF (p = 0.006). No relationship was found between leukocyte counts and AF incidence. Notably, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly elevated on the fifth postoperative day in patients with AF (p < 0.007). The duration of ischemia was significantly longer in patients with AF (p = 0.009). Conclusions: This study establishes the efficacy of perioperative beta-blocker treatment in mitigating postoperative AF. One month post-surgery, most patients under beta-blocker therapy maintained sinus rhythm, suggesting a potential long-term protective effect of beta-blockers against late-onset AF.

Keywords
postoperative atrial fibrillation
supraventricular arrhythmia
cardiac surgery
beta-blocker
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