Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common complication post cardiac surgery and results in elevated morbidity and mortality rates and healthcare costs. A pilot, retrospective study of the medical records of all adult patients developing de novo AF post surgery was undertaken at the cardiac surgical unit in Durban between 2009 and 2012. We aimed to describe the local experience of AF with a view to suggesting an adapted local treatment policy in relation to previously published data. Fifty-nine patients developed AF during the study period. AF occurred predominantly three or more days post surgery. Thirty-five patients required cardioversion and amiodarone to restore sinus rhythm. Return to the general ward (RGW) was 4.6 days longer than the institutional norm. Liberal peri-operative β-blocker and statin use is currently preferred to a formal prophylaxis strategy. Randomised, controlled trials are required to evaluate measures curbing prolonged length of stay and morbidity burdens imposed by AF on the local resource-constrained environment.
Highlights
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common complication post cardiac surgery and results in elevated morbidity and mortality rates and healthcare costs
We aimed to describe the local experience of AF with a view to suggesting an adapted local treatment policy in relation to previously published data
Fifty-nine patients developed de novo AF after cardiac surgery in the index cohort during the study period
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common complication post cardiac surgery and results in elevated morbidity and mortality rates and healthcare costs. A pilot, retrospective study of the medical records of all adult patients developing de novo AF post surgery was undertaken at the cardiac surgical unit in Durban between 2009 and 2012. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia after cardiac surgery This complication constitutes significant morbidity and mortality rates for the cardiac surgical patient.[1] Consequential increase in length of stay (LOS), partly on the basis of thromboembolic events, incurs a financial burden on health institutions. The entity of de novo AF post cardiac surgery has been intensely studied globally, a grave paucity of data exists from the developing world. The aim of this study was to describe the South African experience of de novo AF post cardiac surgery with special emphasis on the issues pertaining to a resourcelimited setting
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