Atrial fibrillation after operation for lung cancer: clinical and prognostic significance
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D Cardinale1, A Martinoni, C M Cipolla
1Cardiology Unit and Thoracic Surgery Division, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, University of Milan, Italy. dcardinale@ieo.cilea.it
Background:
Atrial fibrillation is a common complication of early postoperative period in lung cancer thoracotomy. Its clinical incidence and short- and long-term impact on overall mortality has never been definitely assessed; moreover, it is unclear whether the arrhythmia represents an independent cardiac risk factor.
Methods:
We prospectively studied 233 consecutive patients undergoing operation for lung cancer (170 with non-small-cell lung cancer). Postoperative atrial fibrillation incidence was related to different clinical factors possibly involved in its occurrence and to both short- and long-term survival.
Results:
Atrial fibrillation occurred in 28 patients (12%) (same percentage in non-small-cell lung cancer); a strong relationship was observed between arrhythmia and age, history of hypertension and associated lymph node resection. The mean hospitalization time was 14 +/- 4 days in patients developing atrial fibrillation and 13 +/- 4 days in those who did not (p = not significant). No difference was observed between the two groups with regard to short- or long-term mortality or to long-term atrial fibrillation recurrences, also when considering the entire population and only non-small-cell lung cancer, separately.
Conclusions:
At our institution, early atrial fibrillation occurrence after operation for lung cancer does not show any negative impact on short- and long-term mortality or on recurrence rate.
