[Cardiac arrhythmias after transmediastinal resection of the esophagus]

A study of 45 patients who underwent blunt transmediastinal resection of the esophagus without thoracotomy is presented. Sixteen patients (38%) developed a cardiac arrhythmia. The most common arrhythmia was atrial fibrillation/flutter. Even though 14 of the arrhythmias (88%) converted to sinus rhythm, a significantly higher death-rate was seen in this group of patients (p < 0.0014). As we suspect a relation between cardiac arrhythmia and increased mortality after this type of operation, we propose that a double-blind study should be carried out in order to determine the value of an antiarrhythmic treatment.