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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
[Epidemiology and new predictors of atrial fibrillation after coronary surgery]
José M Arribas-Leal1, Domingo A Pascual-Figal, Pedro L Tornel-Osorio
1Servicio de Cirugía Cardiovascular, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain. arribasdelpeso@telepolis.com
Insights
Postoperative atrial fibrillation (PAF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is common. Preoperative statin use significantly reduces the risk of developing PAF, highlighting its protective effect in clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Clinical Pharmacology
Context:
- Postoperative atrial fibrillation (PAF) is a frequent complication following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
- Identifying predictors for PAF is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
- The study investigates the role of statins, extracorporeal circulation, and novel biomarkers in PAF development.
Purpose:
- To determine the epidemiology of PAF after CABG.
- To identify clinical predictors of PAF, including statin use, extracorporeal circulation, and biomarkers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).
Summary:
- The study included 102 patients undergoing CABG, with a 23% incidence of PAF within 30 days.
- PAF was associated with longer intensive care unit stays and ischemia duration.
- Absence of preoperative statin use was the only significant predictor of increased PAF risk (OR=4.31).
Impact:
- Preoperative statin use may have a protective effect against PAF in patients undergoing CABG.
- These findings emphasize the importance of statin pretreatment in reducing PAF incidence.
- Biomarkers like CRP and NT-proBNP, and extracorporeal circulation, were not found to be significant predictors of PAF in this cohort.
Introduction And Objectives:
Postoperative atrial fibrillation (PAF) is a frequent complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Our aims were to study its epidemiology and to identify predictors in everyday clinical practice, while taking into account statin use, extracorporeal circulation, and new biomarkers of inflammation and ventricular stress.
Methods:
The study included 102 consecutive patients (65 [9] years, 72% male) who were undergoing CABG. Blood samples were taken the day before surgery to determine baseline levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Details of baseline clinical characteristics, preoperative treatment and surgery were recorded. The end-point was PAF at 30 days.
Results:
The incidence of PAF was 23% (n=23; 3.2 [2.9] days, range 1-15 days). Its appearance was associated with a longer stay in the intensive care unit (+ 1 day; P=.019), but not with an increased total hospital stay (P=.213). Among patients with PAF, 4.3% had an embolism and 8.6% remained in atrial fibrillation at discharge. Moreover, PAF was associated with a longer duration of ischemia (28.5 [22.3] vs 18.0 [27.9]; P=.045) and a lower statin pretreatment rate (39% vs 66%; P=.022). Multivariate analysis showed that the only factor associated with a higher risk of PAF was the absence of statin pretreatment (odds ratio = 4.31, 95% confidence interval 1.33-13.88; P=.015). There was no association between either extracorporeal circulation or the baseline CRP or NT-proBNP level and an increased risk of PAF.
Conclusion:
In everyday clinical practice, PAF is a frequent complication. Statin pretreatment could have a protective effect against its appearance.
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