HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tchervenkov, C. I. Articles by Morin, J. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tchervenkov, C. I. Articles by Morin, J. E.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 36, 437-443, Copyright © 1983 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

ARTICLES

Persistent atrial activity during cardioplegic arrest: a possible factor in the etiology of postoperative supraventricular tachyarrhythmias

CI Tchervenkov, JE Wynands, JF Symes, ID Malcolm, AR Dobell and JE Morin

We assessed the relationship between the duration of atrial activity during the cross-clamp period and the postoperative occurrence of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias in 50 patients undergoing elective coronary bypass operation. The atrial electrical activity was monitored continuously by means of a bipolar atrial electrogram from the onset of cardioplegic administration until removal of the aortic cross-clamp. While ventricular arrest was induced promptly and maintained in all patients, sustained atrial activity was observed in 44 out of 50 patients during the cross-clamp period. In the postoperative period, supraventricular tachyarrhythmias developed in 15 patients (Group 1). Thirty-five patients (Group 2) were free from such tachyarrhythmias. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to cross-clamp time, bypass time, amount of cardioplegic solution used, or number of grafts per patient. The mean duration of atrial activity during cardioplegic arrest, however, was significantly longer in Group 1 than in Group 2 (46 +/- 4.7 minutes versus 22.6 +/- 4.0 minutes, respectively, p less than 0.001). None of the 6 patients in whom atrial activity was completely abolished experienced supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. The strong correlation observed between the duration of atrial activity during cardioplegic arrest and the incidence of postoperative supraventricular tachyarrhythmias suggests the possibility that these arrhythmias may be a manifestation of inadequate atrial protection during global myocardial ischemia.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Enc, B. Ketenci, D. Ozsoy, G. Camur, I. Kayacioglu, S. Terzi, and S. Cicek Atrial fibrillation after surgical revascularization: is there any difference between on-pump and off-pump? Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., December 1, 2004; 26(6): 1129 - 1133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Hakala, O. Pitkanen, and J. Hartikainen Cardioplegic arrest does not increase the risk of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., March 1, 2004; 25(3): 415 - 418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R A Archbold and R J Schilling Atrial pacing for the prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a review of the literature Heart, February 1, 2004; 90(2): 129 - 133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. H. Maisel, J. D. Rawn, and W. G. Stevenson Atrial Fibrillation after Cardiac Surgery Ann Intern Med, December 18, 2001; 135(12): 1061 - 1073. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Toraman, E. H. Karabulut, H. C. Alhan, S. Dagdelen, and S. Tarcan Magnesium infusion dramatically decreases the incidence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 2001; 72(4): 1256 - 1262. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. M. Mueller, H. T. Tevaearai, P. Ruchat, F. Stumpe, and L. K. von Segesser Did the introduction of a minimally invasive technique change the incidence of atrial fibrillation after single internal thoracic artery-left anterior descending artery grafting? J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., April 1, 2001; 121(4): 683 - 688. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Dorge, F. A. Schoendube, M. Schoberer, C. Stellbrink, M. Voss, and B. J. Messmer Intraoperative amiodarone as prophylaxis against atrial fibrillation after coronary operations Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2000; 69(5): 1358 - 1362. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Jideus, P. Blomstrom, L. Nilsson, M. Stridsberg, P. Hansell, and C. Blomstrom-Lundqvist Tachyarrhythmias and triggering factors for atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass operations Ann. Thorac. Surg., April 1, 2000; 69(4): 1064 - 1069. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Pernat, M. H. Weil, S. Sun, W. Tang, H. Yamaguchi, and J. Bisera Atrial Function During Cardiac Arrest Caused by Ventricular Fibrillation Chest, April 1, 2000; 117(4): 1118 - 1123. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. L. Lazar, G. Philippides, C. Fitzgerald, D. Lancaster, R. J. Shemin, and C. Apstein GLUCOSE-INSULIN-POTASSIUM SOLUTIONS ENHANCE RECOVERY AFTER URGENT CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., February 1, 1997; 113(2): 354 - 362. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. D. Klemperer, I. L. Klein, K. Ojamaa, R. E. Helm, M. Gomez, O. W. Isom, and K. H. Krieger Triiodothyronine Therapy Lowers the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Operations Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 1996; 61(5): 1323 - 1327. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				Y.-F. Chen, Y.-T. Lin, and S.-C. Wu Effectiveness of coenzyme Q10 on myocardial preservation during hypothermic cardioplegic arrest J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., January 1, 1994; 107(1): 242 - 247. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. Janssen, L. Loomans, J. Harink, M. Taams, L. Brunninkhuis, P. van der Starre, and G. Kootstra Prevention and Treatment of Supraventricular Tachycardia Shortly After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Randomized Open Trial Angiology, August 1, 1986; 37(8): 601 - 609. [Abstract] [PDF]