Abstract 12251: Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Changes in Patients Who Developed Atrial Fibrillation Post Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Abstract

Introduction: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is seen in around 30% of patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). It is associated with increased risk for stroke, heart failure, in-hospital mortality and hospital readmission. Prediction of POAF could help institute preventive and early treatment strategies. Methods: We queried PubMed, Ovid Medline, and Cochrane databases for key words ‘atrial speckle tracking” and/or “reservoir strain” and/or “post-operative atrial fibrillation”. We included studies that included patients in normal sinus rhythm before CABG and compared reservoir strain and/or peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) between patients who developed POAF and those who did not. Continuous data (LA strain) was pooled as a mean difference comparing patients who developed POAF versus patients who did not. We used the inverse variance method with the Restricted Maximum likelihood estimator of Tau2, for random effect analysis. We used Q and I2 statistics to calculate the heterogeneity. Results: Six observational studies met our inclusion criteria with a total of 338 patients, of which 91 patients developed POAF. Left atrial reservoir strain was significantly reduced in patients who developed POAF as compared with those who did not develop POAF, mean difference(MD), 95% confidence interval(CI): -13.97(-15.00-12.93), I2= 53%, , P <0.00001, Figure 1. Conclusions: Atrial reservoir strain was significantly reduced in patients who developed POAF as compared to those who remained in sinus rhythm. Atrial reservoir strain can be potentially used to identify patients at risk of POAF. More data is needed for further validation of this finding. .