Atrial fibrillation after pulmonary transplantation: incidence, impact on mortality, treatment effectiveness, and risk factors

Observational Study of the Association between Atrial Fibrillation and In-Hospital Mortality during Hospitalization for Solid Organ Transplants in Spain from 2004 to 2021

(1) Background: We analyzed the association between atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (AF) and in-hospital mortality (IHM) among patients who underwent solid organ transplants in Spain from 2004 to 2021. (2) Methods: We gathered information from all hospital admissions for lung, liver, kidney, and heart transplants. (3) Results: A total of 71,827 transplants were analyzed (4598 lung transplants; 18,127 liver transplants; 45,262 kidney transplants; and 4734 heart transplants). One third of these were for women. Overall, the prevalence of AF was 6.8% and increased from 5.3% in 2004-2009 to 8.6% in 2016-2021. The highest prevalence of AF was found for heart transplants (24.0%), followed by lung transplants (14.7%). The rates for kidney and liver transplants were 5.3% and 4.1%, respectively. The AF code increased over time for all of the transplants analyzed (p < 0.001). The patients' IHM decreased significantly from 2004-2009 to 2016-2021 for all types of transplants. AF was associated with a higher IHM for all of the types of transplants analyzed, except for heart transplants. (4) Conclusions: The prevalence of AF among patients admitted for solid organ transplants was highest for those who underwent heart transplants. The mortality rate during the patients' admission for lung, liver, kidney, or heart transplants decreased over time. AF was independently associated with a higher risk of dying in the hospital for those who underwent lung, liver, or kidney transplants.

Management of Atrial Arrhythmias After Lung Transplant

The overall survival in patients undergoing lung transplantation is poor. Although postsurgical atrial arrhythmias seem to play a major role in the morbidity and mortality of this population, data regarding the clinical and interventional management of this complication are still controversial. Through a review of the literature in the field, we observed that not only the surgical technique is clearly arrhythmogenic, but the new administration of peri-procedure beta-blockers and amiodarone for arrhythmia prevention and treatment, respectively, seems harmful in these postsurgical patients. However, low-dose beta-blockers administered after surgery seem feasible in arrhythmia prevention in specific patient subgroups, and, aside from amiodarone, alternative antiarrhythmic agents can be safely and effectively used to treat symptomatic patients on top of adequate rate control. Finally, as to complex atrial arrhythmias occurring late after lung transplant surgery, radiofrequency catheter ablation seems a feasible treatment option. In light of this evidence and considering the absence of clear recommendations in the field, we suggest a practical approach that may help the clinician in the management of this postsurgical complication. However, as most of these considerations are drawn from small-sized and retrospective studies, more evidence is needed in the future to clarify which medical and interventional strategies may best treat these postsurgical arrhythmias and thus potentially improve the outcome of these frail patients.

Predictors and impact of postoperative atrial fibrillation following thoracic surgery: a state-of-the-art review

This review of 19 studies (39,783 patients) of atrial fibrillation after thoracic surgery addresses the pathophysiology, incidence, and consequences of atrial fibrillation in this population, as well as its prevention and management. Interestingly, atrial fibrillation was most often identified in patients not previously known to have the disease. Rhythm control with amiodarone was the most commonly used treatment and nearly all patients were discharged in sinus rhythm. Major predictors were age; male sex; history of atrial fibrillation; congestive heart failure; left atrial enlargement; elevated brain natriuretic peptide level; and the invasiveness of procedures. Overall, patients with atrial fibrillation stayed 3 days longer in hospital. We also discuss the importance of standardising research on this subject and provide recommendations that might mitigate the impact postoperative atrial fibrillation on hospital resources.

Need for anticoagulation and use of direct oral anticoagulants in lung transplant recipients

Limited information is available about use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in lung transplant recipients (LTRs). The purpose of this study is to describe the indications and use of long-term anticoagulation, including the safety and tolerability of DOACs, in LTRs. This was a single-center retrospective study. LTRs who received therapeutic anticoagulation were identified. Patient characteristics, indications for treatment, and complications of therapy were obtained. A total of 203 patients underwent lung transplantation of which 118 patients (58.1%) had an indication for anticoagulation. Patients with an indication for anticoagulation were older than those without (59 ± 14 years versus 48 ± 17 years, p < 0.001) and were more likely to be male (72.0% versus 50.6%, p = 0.002). Of the patients with indication for anticoagulation, 74 (62.7%) received it. Fifty-one (68.9%) of patients receiving anticoagulation were treated with DOACs. In the patients receiving anticoagulation, there were 14 major bleeding events in 13 patients, of which 3 were receiving DOACs and the remainder were receiving heparin or warfarin. The need for anticoagulation is common in LTRs for both atrial arrhythmias and venous thromboembolism. However, many patients with atrial arrhythmias do not receive anticoagulation. The use of DOACs is well tolerated and safe in LTRs.

Incidence and recurrence of new-onset atrial fibrillation detected during hospitalization for non-cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This systematic review aimed to summarize reports of the incidence and long-term recurrence of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) associated with non-cardiac surgery.

SOURCES

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to November 2019. We included studies that reported on the incidence of new-onset perioperative AF during hospitalization for non-cardiac surgery and/or AF recurrence in such patients following discharge. Reviewers screened articles and abstracted data independently and in duplicate. We assessed study quality by appraising methodology for collecting AF history, incident AF during hospitalization, and AF recurrence after discharge.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

From 39,233 citations screened, 346 studies that enrolled a total of 5,829,758 patients met eligibility criteria. Only 27 studies used prospective, continuous inpatient electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring to detect incident AF. Overall, the incidence of postoperative AF during hospitalization ranged from 0.004 to 50.3%, with a median [interquartile range] of 8.7 [3.8-15.0]%. Atrial fibrillation incidence varied with type of surgery. Prospective studies using continuous ECG monitoring reported significantly higher incidences of AF than those that did not (13.9% vs 1.9%, respectively; P < 0.001). A total of 13 studies (25,726 patients) with follow-up up to 5.4 years reported on AF recurrence following hospital discharge; only one study used a prospective systematic monitoring protocol. Recurrence rates ranged from 0 to 37.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of AF incidence first detected following non-cardiac surgery and long-term AF recurrence vary markedly. Differences in the intensity of ECG monitoring and type of surgery may account for this variation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO (CRD42017068055); registered 1 September 2017.

The Year in Cardiothoracic Transplantation Anesthesia: Selected Highlights from 2019

The highlights in cardiothoracic transplantation focus on the recent research pertaining to heart and lung transplantation, including expansion of the donor pool, the optimization of donors and recipients, the use of mechanical support, the perioperative and long-term outcomes in these patient populations, and the use of transthoracic echocardiography to diagnose rejection.

Clinical significance of postoperative atrial arrhythmias in patients who underwent lung transplantation

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Atrial arrhythmia (AA) occasionally occurs after lung transplantation (LT); however, risk factors for AA and their impact on clinical outcomes are inconsistent. We aimed to investigate the incidence, predisposing factors, and clinical outcomes of AA after LT.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 153 consecutive patients who underwent LT between January 2010 and August 2016. An AA episode was defined as a documented atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia on 12-lead electrocardiography or episodes lasting ≥ 30 seconds on telemetry monitoring.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up time was 22.0 ± 19.1 months. Postoperative AA occurred in 46 patients (30.1%) after LT. Patients with postoperative AA were older, had larger body surface area, and had an increased incidence of paroxysmal AF prior to transplantation, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and postoperative tracheostomy than patients without AA. Preoperative right atrial pressure (RAP) (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; p = 0.005) and longer periods of mechanical ventilation (OR, 1.03; p = 0.008) were found to be independent risk factors for AA after surgery. Development of AA was a significant predictor of long-term overall mortality (hazard ratio, 2.75; p = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

Patients with elevated preoperative RAP and long-term ventilator care had a higher risk of AA after LT. Further, AA after LT was associated with poor long-term survival.

Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation Following Noncardiac Surgery Increases Risk of Stroke

BACKGROUND

New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation is well recognized to be an adverse prognostic marker in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Whether postoperative atrial fibrillation confers an increased risk of stroke remains unclear.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess the risk of stroke after postoperative atrial fibrillation in noncardiac surgery. MEDLINE, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases were searched for articles published up to May 2019 for studies of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery that reported incidence of new atrial fibrillation and stroke. Event rates from individual studies were pooled and risk ratios (RR) were pooled using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies of 3,536,291 patients undergoing noncardiac surgery were included in the quantitative analysis (mean follow-up 1.4 ± 1 year). New atrial fibrillation occurred in 26,046 (0.74%), patients with a higher incidence following thoracic surgery. Stroke occurred in 279 (1.5%) and 6199 (0.4%) patients with and without postoperative atrial fibrillation, respectively. On pooled analysis, postoperative atrial fibrillation was associated with a significantly increased risk of stroke (RR 2.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.76-3.59), with moderate heterogeneity. The stroke risk was significantly higher with atrial fibrillation following nonthoracic, compared with thoracic, surgery (RR 3.09 vs RR 1.95; P = .01).

CONCLUSION

New postoperative atrial fibrillation following noncardiac surgery was associated with a 2.5-fold increase in the risk of stroke. This risk was highest among patients undergoing nonthoracic noncardiac surgery. Given the documented efficacy of newer anticoagulants, randomized controlled trials are warranted to assess whether they can reduce the risk of stroke in these patients.

Incidence, Management, Prevention and Outcome of Post-Operative Atrial Fibrillation in Thoracic Surgical Oncology

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common supraventricular arrhythmia, a recognized risk factor for ischemic stroke, as a potential driver for heart failure (HF). Cancer patients have an increased risk for AF, even not including any cancer-specific treatment, as surgery or chemotherapy. The mechanism is multifactorial, with inflammation and changes in autonomic tone as critical actors. Commonly, AF is a recurrent complication of the post-operative period in cancer surgery (especially thoracic). Recent papers confirmed a significant incidence of post-operative (non-cardiac surgery) AF (PAF), partially mitigated by the use of prophylactic (rate o rhythm control) treatments. A relevant difference, in terms of mean hospitalization time, emerges between patients developing PAF and those who do not, while long term impact remains a matter of debate, due to several potential confounding factors. Besides clinical predictors, structural (i.e., echocardiographic) and bio-humoral findings may help in risk prediction tasks. In this respect, pre-operative natriuretic peptides (NPs) concentrations are nowadays recognized as significant independent predictors of perioperative cardiovascular complications (including PAF), while elevated post-operative levels may further enhance risk stratification. The aim of the present paper is to trace the state of the art in terms of incidence, management, prevention, and outcome of PAF in the field of thoracic surgical oncology.

Atrial Flutter and Fibrillation Following Lung Transplantation: Incidence, Associations and a Suggested Therapeutic Algorithm

BACKGROUND

Atrial arrhythmias are relatively common following lung transplantation and confer considerable perioperative risk, specifically haemodynamic instability, pulmonary congestion, dyspnoea, and can mask other post-transplant complications such as infection or acute rejection. However, for most patients, arrhythmias are limited to the short-term perioperative period.

METHODS

We present a retrospective case-control analysis of 200 lung transplant recipients and using multivariate regression analysis, document the present incidence, risk factors, and outcomes between the two groups.

RESULTS

Twenty-five per cent (25%) of lung transplantation patients developed atrial flutter or fibrillation, most frequently at day 5-7 post lung transplantation, and more commonly present in older recipients and those with underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but not in those with previously noted structural heart disease, or in those undergoing single rather than double lung transplants. Atrial arrhythmias were associated with increased intensive care unit and overall length of stay, but were not associated with increased risk of in-hospital stroke, or mortality. Based on our experience, we propose a suggested management algorithm for pharmacological and mechanical rate/rhythm control strategies, for anticoagulation, and discuss the appropriate duration of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Atrial arrhythmias are relatively common post lung transplantation. Carefully managed, the associated risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality can be mitigated. Further prospective studies are required to validate these strategies.

Postoperative management of lung transplant recipients

Despite advances in surgical technique, lung transplantation is associated with worse survival when compared with other solid organ transplantations. Graft dysfunction and infection are the leading causes of mortality in the first 30 days following transplantation. Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a form of reperfusion injury that occurs early after transplantation. Management of PGD is mainly supportive with use of lung protective ventilation. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may be used in severe cases. Bacterial pneumonias are the most common infectious complication in the immediate post transplant period, but invasive fungal infections may also occur. Other potential complications in the postoperative period include atrial arrhythmias and neurologic complications such as stroke. There is a lack of multicenter, randomized trials to guide ventilation strategies, infection prophylaxis, and treatment of atrial arrhythmias, therefore prevention and management of post-transplant complications vary by transplant center.

Prevalence and risk factors of atrial fibrillation during lung and esophageal surgery: A Prospective observational study

The aim of this prospective observational study was to screen for risk factors of intraoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) during noncardiac thoracic surgery. The study was conducted as a single-institution study in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China. All the participants were patients with cancer scheduled for thoracotomy.This study was conducted from July 2013 to August 2016 and included 144 patients scheduled for thoracotomy under general anesthesia. We collected the patients' demographic and perioperative medical data in our hospital. AF was diagnosed using electrocardiography (ECG), on the basis of the presence of characteristic ECG features of AF by one or more ECG leads for at least 30 seconds.Of the participants, 144 completed the study and 18 developed intraoperative AF. Higher percentages of subjects in the AF group than in the non-AF group had histories of chemotherapy (P = .014) and alcohol consumption (P = .034) before surgery. The AF group had a lower mean body mass index (P = .019), significantly higher mean heart rate (P < .001), and lower tidal volume (P = .01) than the non-AF group. After the logistic regression analysis, only alcohol consumption (odds ratio [OR] = 5.279; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.432-19.467), history of chemotherapy (OR = 4.019; 95% CI: 1.504-15.334), and high heart rate (OR = 1.093; 95% CI: 1.033-1.156) during 1-lung ventilation were identified as the risk factors of AF during lung and esophageal surgeries.The incidence of intraoperative AF during noncardiac thoracic surgery was 12.5%. Alcohol consumption, history of chemotherapy, and high heart rate during 1-lung ventilation were the risk factors related to intraoperative AF.

Atrial arrhythmias after lung transplantation

Atrial arrhythmias are a common complication after lung transplant (LT), occurring in about 16-46% of LT patients early postoperatively, and in about 14% during longer-term follow-up. They have a significant impact on postoperative in-hospital length of stay and may have an impact on overall mortality. In this report, we review the incidence and risk factors of post lung transplant AA, their pathogenesis and their impact on short- and long-term outcomes. Pharmacological management options are reviewed. In brief, early atrial arrhythmias tend to be mostly atrial fibrillation and are treated acutely with a rate control strategy followed if needed by rhythm control for 4-6 weeks. Late atrial arrhythmias >6 months after LT tend to be more frequently organized atrial flutters amenable to ablation therapy. Long-term anticoagulation is controversial especially in patients with bilateral lung transplant who received surgical pulmonic vein isolation, however anticoagulation is still favored especially in single LT patients. More studies are needed to further document the pathophysiology of early versus late atrial arrhythmias and whether long-term anticoagulation is needed.

Adverse outcomes associated with postoperative atrial arrhythmias after lung transplantation: A meta-analysis and systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Postoperative atrial arrhythmias (AAs) are common after lung transplantation, but studies are mixed regarding their impact on outcomes. We therefore performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether AAs after lung transplantation impede postoperative recovery.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Register were searched to identify studies comparing outcomes in adult patients undergoing lung transplantation who experienced postoperative AAs in the immediate postoperative period vs those without postoperative AAs. Our primary outcome was perioperative mortality, and secondary outcomes were length of stay (LOS), postoperative complications, and mid-term (1-6 years) mortality.

RESULTS

Nine studies including 2653 patients were included in this analysis. Of this group, 791 (29.8%) had postoperative AAs. Patients with postoperative AAs had significantly higher perioperative (OR 2.70 [95% CI: 1.73-4.19], P<.0001) mortality, longer hospital LOS (MD 8.29 [95% CI: 4.37-12.21] days, P<.0001), more frequent requirement for tracheostomy (OR 4.67 [95% CI: 2.59-8.44], P<.0001), and higher mid-term mortality (OR 1.71 [95% CI: 1.28-2.30], P=.0003).

CONCLUSIONS

AAs after lung transplantation are frequent and associated with significantly higher mortality, longer hospital LOS, and requirement for tracheostomy. Given their impact on recovery, prophylactic strategies against AAs need to be developed.

Incidence, Predictors, and Outcomes of Early Atrial Arrhythmias After Lung Transplant: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to determine the incidence, predictors, and prognostic implications of early post-lung transplant atrial arrhythmias (AAs).

BACKGROUND

Although frequently encountered, the prognostic implications of early AAs after lung transplant remain uncertain.

METHODS

A systematic review of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library was conducted for all studies that reported early post-lung transplant AAs. Random-effects DerSimonian-Laird risk ratios (RRs) were calculated for categorical variables and standardized mean difference (SMD) for continuous variables.

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies with 3,203 patients (mean age 57 ± 3 years; 52% males) were included. The incidence of early post-lung transplant AAs during hospitalization was 26.6% at mean follow-up duration of 6.7 days. Predictors of post-lung transplant AAs included advanced age (SMD: 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.35 to 0.64), male gender (RR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.28 to 1.47), history of smoking (RR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.46), hypertension (RR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.59), hyperlipidemia (RR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.63), coronary artery disease (RR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.7), left atrial diameter (SMD: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.44), and restrictive lung disease (RR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.59). Post-lung transplant AAs were associated with increased all-cause mortality (adjusted RR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.22 to 2.19) at mean follow-up of 27.8 months and length of hospital stay (36.5 ± 16.5 days vs. 26.1 ± 14.3 days; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Early AAs post-lung transplant are associated with increased mortality and length of hospital stay. Advanced age, male sex, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, increased left atrial diameter, and restrictive lung disease are independent predictors of early AAs in post-lung transplant patients.

Evaluation of Enoxaparin Dosing as a Risk Factor for Bleeding in Lung Transplant Recipients

Background: Lung transplant recipients commonly develop complications that lead to anticoagulation. Standard FDA-approved enoxaparin dosing in this population results in a high incidence of above-goal anti-Xa levels, but its association with bleeding remains unclear. Objective: To evaluate the association between enoxaparin dosing and bleeding in lung transplant recipients and assess the relationship between dosing and anti-Xa levels. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of adult lung transplant recipients who received therapeutic enoxaparin between 2000 and 2012 at a tertiary academic center. We dichotomized enoxaparin dosing regimens into standard dose (FDA-approved doses with a 10% rounding margin) and reduced dose. Clinicians ordered anti-Xa levels as deemed clinically appropriate. The primary outcome was major bleeding or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding. Results: Of 222 patients treated with enoxaparin, 33 (14.9%) had bleeding events, of which half (17/33) were major. Bleeding occurred in 25/146 (17.1%) patients who received standard-dose enoxaparin versus 8/76 (10.5%) patients who received reduced-dose enoxaparin ( P = 0.190). Multiple logistic regression demonstrated an independent association between standard-dose enoxaparin and bleeding, after adjusting for confounders (adjusted odds ratio = 3.04; 95% CI = 1.14-8.10). The median enoxaparin dose in patients with above-goal versus at-goal anti-Xa levels was 0.89 versus 0.76 mg/kg every 12 hours; P = 0.006. However, doses yielding at-goal anti-Xa levels had an interquartile range of 0.67 to 0.90 mg/kg, which overlapped with doses yielding above- and below-goal anti-Xa levels. Conclusions: Enoxaparin dose reduction and anti-Xa level monitoring can improve drug safety and facilitate individualized dose optimization in lung transplant recipients.

Incidence, risk factors and prognosis of postoperative atrial arrhythmias after lung transplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Postoperative atrial arrhythmia is the most common dysrhythmia seen after lung transplantation. However, risk factors for postoperative atrial arrhythmias and their impact on outcomes were inconsistent. The aim of our study was to conduct a meta-analysis to analyse risk factors of postoperative atrial arrhythmias and the impact of postoperative atrial arrhythmias on outcomes after lung transplantation. All eligible articles from MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and the Chinese BioMedical Literature Database (until November 2015) were incorporated into this study. We extracted the data from the included studies and performed a meta-analysis to evaluate predictors for postoperative atrial arrhythmias and their impact on outcomes. R software and STATA 13.0 software were used for the meta-analysis. A total of 2094 patients from 11 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled incidence of postoperative atrial arrhythmias after lung transplantation was 31% [95% confidence interval (CI), 25-37%]. We found that gender (female versus male) with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.44 (95% CI 0.35-0.56, P < 0.001), age (>50 vs ≤50 or atrial arrhythmias versus non-atrial arrhythmias) with OR of 2.73 (95% CI 1.86-4.00, P < 0.001) and weighted mean difference (WMD) of 5.88 years (95% CI 3.69-8.07, P < 0.001), history of atrial arrhythmias with OR of 1.76 (95% CI 1.34-2.32, P = 0.002), vasopressor use with OR of 1.76 (95% CI 1.34-2.32, P < 0.001), cystic fibrosis with OR of 0.32 (95% CI 0.18-0.59, P < 0.001), interstitial lung disease with OR of 1.85 (95% CI 1.27-2.71, P = 0.001), hypertension with OR of 1.49 (95% CI 1.12-1.97, P = 0.006), coronary artery disease with OR of 1.58 (95% CI 1.20-2.08, P = 0.001), hyperlipidaemia with OR of 1.52 (95% CI 1.06-2.20, P = 0.025) and left atrial enlargement with OR of 2.99 (95% CI 1.91-4.67, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with postoperative atrial arrhythmias after lung transplantation. Postoperative atrial arrhythmias had a significant influence on length of stay (WMD 9.72, 95% CI 5.07-14.38, P < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio 1.72, 95% CI 1.39-2.12, P < 0.001) after lung transplantation. In conclusion, the significant risk factors for postoperative atrial arrhythmias were gender, age, history of atrial arrhythmias, vasopressor use, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, hypertension, coronary artery disease, hyperlipidaemia, cardiac index and left atrial size. Development of postoperative atrial arrhythmias has prognostic implications for length of stay and overall survival after lung transplantation. Prospective and randomized trials are needed to address these issues in the future.

Atrial arrhythmias after lung transplantation: Incidence and risk factors in 652 lung transplant recipients

OBJECTIVES

Atrial arrhythmia (AA) after lung transplantation (LTx) is a potentially morbid event often associated with increased length of hospital stay. Predictors of postsurgical AA, however, are incompletely understood. We characterized the incidence and predisposing risk factors for AA in patients undergoing LTx.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted to identify LTx recipients between January 2008 and October 2013. Patients were divided into 2 groups on the basis of postoperative AA development. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to define differences between groups and identify factors associated with AA. Survival differences were assessed by the use of competing risks methodology.

RESULTS

A total of 198 of 652 (30.4%) patients developed AA at a median onset of 5 days after transplant. Increasing age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.03 per additional year, P < .001) and previous coronary artery bypass grafting (HR 2.77, P = .002) were found to be independent risk factors. Counterintuitively, patients with a medical history of AA before LTx had a lower incidence of postoperative AA. Preoperative beta-blocker usage was not a significant predictor of postoperative AA. Postoperative AA was a significant predictor of long-term mortality (HR 1.63, P = .007) when we adjusted for other risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

AA is a common occurrence after LTx, occurring with greatest frequency in the first postoperative week, and results in a significant reduction in long-term survival. Increasing age and before coronary artery bypass grafting were identified as independent risk factors for AA development. Better understanding of these risk factors may improve identification of patients at heightened risk after transplantation.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients with left atrial myxoma

Introduction

The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with left atrial (LA) myxoma.

Methods

Thirty-six consecutive patients with LA myxoma (10 men, mean age: 49.3 ± 15.7 years), who were operated on between March 2010 and July 2012, were included in this retrospective study. Pre-operative electrocardiograms and echocardiographic examinations of each patient were reviewed.

Results

Postoperative AF developed in 10 patients, whereas there was no evidence of paroxysmal AF after resection of the LA myxoma in the remaining 26 patients. The patients who developed AF postoperatively were significantly older than those who did not develop AF (median: 61.5 vs 46 years; p = 0.009). Among the electrocardiographic parameters, only P-wave dispersion differed significantly between postoperative AF and non-AF patients (median: 57.6 vs 39.8 ms, p = 0.004). Logistic regression analysis revealed P-wave dispersion (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.003–1.224, p = 0.043) and age (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.001–1.278, p = 0.048) as independent predictors of postoperative AF in our cohort of patients.

Conclusions

P-wave dispersion is a simple and useful parameter for the prediction of postoperative AF in patients with LA myxoma.

Interrelationship among common medical complications after acute stroke: pneumonia plays an important role

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Medical complications are common among patients with stroke. However, little is known about the potential interrelationship among them. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the association between common in-hospital medical complications after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

METHODS

We analyzed patients enrolled in the China National Stroke Registry from 2007 to 2008. The occurrence of 11 common stroke-associated medical complications during acute hospitalization was prospectively registered. Multivariable analysis using generalized estimation equation was performed to assess association between medical complications in AIS and ICH cohort, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 14 702 patients with AIS and 5221 patients with ICH were enrolled. The median age was 65 years (interquartile range, 55-74 years), and 38.1% were female. The median length of hospital stay was 14 days (interquartile range, 10-20 days) for AIS and 18 days (interquartile range, 11-26 days) for ICH. Pneumonia was the most common medical complication after AIS (11.4%) and ICH (16.8%). In the AIS cohort, after adjusting for potential confounders, pneumonia was significantly associated with development of gastrointestinal bleeding (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 8.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.27-11.1; P<0.001), decubitus ulcer (adjusted OR, 5.31; 95% CI, 3.39-8.31; P<0.001), deep vein thrombosis (adjusted OR, 4.27; 95% CI, 2.41-7.59; P<0.001), epileptic seizure (adjusted OR, 3.96; 95% CI, 2.67-5.88; P<0.001), urinary tract infection (adjusted OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 2.73-4.10; P<0.001), atrial fibrillation/flutter (adjusted OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 2.58-3.90; P<0.001), and recurrent stroke (adjusted OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 2.07-3.40; P<0.001). Similar significant association between pneumonia and development of several nonpneumonia medical complications was verified in ICH cohort as well.

CONCLUSIONS

Pneumonia is closely associated with the development of several nonpneumonia medical complications after AIS and ICH.

Functional status after lung transplantation in older adults in the post-allocation score era

This manuscript describes the functional status trajectory of older (age 65 or older) and younger (age 18-64) adults after lung transplantation (LT). After the implementation of the lung allocation score (LAS) in 2005, older adults became the fastest growing subgroup of recipients. Yet the impact of LT on physical function, a main determinant of quality of life in older adults, is unknown. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using United Network for Organ Sharing data on 4805 adults who received a LT during 2005-2009. We divided them into older (≥65; n = 774) and younger (18-64; n = 4031) cohorts. Functional status was measured by Karnofsky performance score (KPS). Mixed models estimated the impact of age group on the rate of functional decline starting at 1 year posttransplantation. We controlled for KPS at transplantation, gender, race, diagnosis, LAS and LT type. Age group was not associated with different rates of decline in KPS over time. On average, recipients who were older, received a single LT, or had a low KPS at transplantation had worse functional status posttransplantation when compared to their counterparts, but rarely reached disability at 48 months. Overall, LT had a positive and durable effect on physical function for both older and younger recipients.