Abstract
Aim. Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, most frequently atrial fibrillation (AF), occur in 830% of patients undergoing major pulmonary resection. The aim of this study was to characterize a biochemical marker in order to identify subjects at higher risk of postoperative AF. The authors tested the hypothesis that elevated preoperative plasma levels of N-terminal brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) may predict the occurrence of postoperative AF. Methods. Fifty-five consecutive patients undergoing elective major thoracic surgery were selected. All patients had 12-lead electrocardiogram and transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation at entry. Plasma NT-pro BNP levels were determined both at baseline and at the first postoperative day. Patients were monitored thereafter to detect the occurrence of AF. For statistical analysis, an unpaired Student t test was used to compare continuous variables, χ2 tests or Fischer exact tests were used for categorical variables, as needed. Results. Eight (14.54%) of the 55 patients developed AF with a peak incidence on postoperative days 2 to 3. Baseline NT-pro-BNP was more than two fold higher in patients who developed AF (506.1±108.4 pg/mL versus 197.7±54.9 pg/mL; P-0.001). Other relevant clinical and diagnostic parameters were not different in the two groups. Patients with NT-pro-BNP level above the median (113.0 pg/mL) had 8-fold increase risk of postoperative AF. Conclusion. A preoperative elevated plasma NT-pro-BNP level was associated with the occurrence of AF in patient undergoing major thoracic surgery. Baseline NT-pro-BNP levels may be proposed as a biochemical marker to detect patients at higher risk of postoperative AF who could benefit from prophylactic therapeutic medication.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 581-585 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Minerva Cardioangiologica |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 6 |
State | Published - Dec 2008 |
Keywords
- Atrial fibrillation
- Natriuretic peptide, brain
- Pneumonectomy