Pre-Operative Use of Aspirin May Reduce Atrial Fibrillation Development Rate during Coronary Bypass Surgery

Abstract

Objective: We sought to determine whether the administration of aspirin reduces the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation in coronary arterial bypass grafting surgery. Atrial fibrillation leads to an increase in morbidity and mortality as well as a increase in length of hospital stay due to an excess of medication usage. Methods: From January 2012-May 2015, 550 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery at our hospital were randomly assigned to two groups-treatment and control. In the treatment therapy group, the patients took acetylsalicylic acid (300 mg) without stopping before coronary bypass surgery. In the control group, the patients did not receive any anti-aggregant therapy before surgery. The rate of atrial fibrillation was retrospectivel evaluated between first 3 days, one week, and 4 weeks after surgery. Results: While atrial fibrillation developed in 14 patients (5.1%) in treatment group, this rate was 24.2% with 68 patients in control group 4 weeks after operation (p<0.05). Between the groups there was an significant difference in terms of intensive care unit and hospital stay. In the treatment group, the ICU and hospital stay was shorter compared with the other group (p<0.05). Hospital charges were less in the treatment group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that aspirin is a useful drug for prevention of atrial fibrillation. Besides, aspirin treatment until operation day reduces hospital costs and length of stay in hospital, after the coronary artery bypasses grafting.