Abstract
ObjectiveWe sought to examine the effects of bronchodilator treatment on the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery. MethodsA cross-sectional design using a retrospective chart review was performed in patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Those who had previous atrial fibrillation or preoperative bronchodilator treatment were excluded from the final sample (n = 506). The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL) was used for statistical analyses. ResultsThe incidence of POAF in this study was 27.9%, and was associated with age (P < .01) and type of cardiac surgery (P < .05), indicating that increasing age, and combined cardiac surgery were more likely to precipitate POAF. Bronchodilator treatment did not increase POAF. However, combined therapy significantly (P < .01) precipitated more POAF (48.7%) than did albuterol (21.4%) or levalbuterol (18.5%). ConclusionsPostoperative atrial fibrillation continues to be a common complication after cardiac surgery. Bronchodilator treatment with either albuterol or levalbuterol did not precipitate POAF, unless both agents were given to the same patients postoperatively.
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