Study of Atrial Fibrillation and Venous Thromboembolism in Critically Ill Patients in Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Bachground: atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in patient hospitalized in ICU and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary Embolism (PE), is recognized as a common complication in critically ill patients. Risk factors including critical illness, mechanical ventilation, sedative medications and central venous catheter insertion are major contributing factors to the high risk of VTE. Objective: it was to evaluate the causes and outcomes of AF and VTE in patients admitted to intensive care unit due to non-cardiac causes. We studied 143 consecutive patients admitted to ICU for non-cardiac emergencies. Results: only 48 (33.5 %) patients were complicated. AF is the most common complication happened in 27 patients (56 %) of complicated cases; pulmonary embolism comes next with 13 patients (27.1%) of complicated cases, DVT in the third place with 8 patients (16.6 %) of complicated cases. The age of patients admitted to ICU was directly related to complication happened in ICU, the older the patient is the more he is vulnerable to complications, the increased body mass index and increased weight was directly related to complications, the hemoglobin level is strongly related to cardiac complications . There was increased risk of DVT and pulmonary embolism due to prolonged bed ridden state. Conclusion: patients of ICU who have a higher risk than other for adverse cardiac complications, the most common cardiac complications are AF, DVT and pulmonary embolism and finally cardiac complications leads to increased rate of mortality and morbidity.