New Onset Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation Predicts Long-Term Cardiovascular Events Following Gastrectomy

• Published in: The American journal of surgery
• Main Authors: Nassoiy, Sean P., DO, Blackwell, Robert H., MD, Kothari, Anai N., MD, Besser, Stephanie, MS, Gupta, Gopal N., MD, Kuo, Paul C., MD, Abood, Gerard J., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Surgery; Atrial fibrillation; myocardial infarction; postoperative complications; gastrectomy; stroke
• ISSN: 0002-9610
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2015.10.024

Abstract Objective Recent evidence suggests transient post-operative atrial fibrillation leads to future cardiovascular events, even in non-cardiac surgery. The long-term effects of post-operative atrial fibrillation in gastrectomy patients are unknown. Methods The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases identified patients undergoing gastrectomy for malignancy between 2007-2010. Patients were matched by propensity scores based on various factors. Adjusted Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models assessed the effect of post-operative atrial fibrillation on cardiovascular events. Results A higher incidence of cardiovascular events occurred over the first year in patients who developed post-operative atrial fibrillation. Cox proportional hazards regression confirmed an increased risk of cardiovascular events in post-operative atrial fibrillation patients. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that patients undergoing gastrectomy for malignancy who develop post-operative atrial fibrillation are at increased risk of cardiovascular events within one year. Physicians should be vigilant in assessing post-operative atrial fibrillation, given the increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity.