Prediction of Atrial Fibrillation After Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Using Preoperative Total Atrial Conduction Time Determined on Tissue Doppler Imaging

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication of cardiac surgery and results in increased health-care utilization. This study identified new transthoracic echocardiographic predictors of POAF using an index of the total atrial conduction time derived on tissue Doppler imaging (PA-TDI duration) in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). Methods and Results: A total of 88 patients undergoing isolated OPCAB were enrolled. They were examined preoperatively on transthoracic echocardiography with tissue Doppler evaluations and monitored postoperatively with continuous electrocardiographic telemetry for 7 days. POAF occurred in 35 patients (39.8%). Patients with POAF had a significantly longer duration of hospital stay than those without (44.9 +/- 6.2 vs. 37.3 +/- 3.3 days, P=0.04). Multivariate analysis showed that PA-TDI duration (odds ratio [OR], 1.11; 95% confidence interval [Cl]: 1.06-1.16; P=0.0001) and left atrial volume index (LAVI; OR, 1.11; 95% Cl: 1.02-1.20; P=0.01) were independent predictors of POAF. Moreover, PA-TDI duration was more reliable, given an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 (sensitivity, 74.3%; specificity, 86.8%). Conclusions: PA-TDI duration was an independent predictor of POAF following OPCAB. Awareness of risk of POAF may lead to the prevention of POAF, a rapid response to POAF, shortened hospital stay, and improved prognosis.