The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Volume 127, Issue 2 , Pages 311-313 , February 2004

New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation: A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma

  • Adam E. Saltman, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Departments of Surgery and Physiology, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, Mass, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress for reprints: Adam E. Saltman, MD, PhD, Division of CT Surgery, 55 Lake Avenue North, S3-747, Worcester, MA 01655, USA

Received 26 March 2003 ,Revised 8 April 2003 ,Accepted 24 April 2003.

References 

  1. Melo J, Voigt P, Sonmez B, Ferreira M, Abecasis M, Rebocho M, et al. Ventral cardiac denervation reduces the incidence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003;127:511-6
  2. Janse MJ. Why does atrial fibrillation occur?. Eur Heart J. 1997;18:C12–18
  3. Rensma Pl, Allessie MA, Lammers WJ, Bonke FI, Schalij MJ. Length of excitation wave and susceptibility to reentrant atrial arrhythmias in normal conscious dogs. Circ Res. 1988;62:395–410
  4. Frost L, Christiansen EH, Molgaard H, Jacobsen CJ, Allermand H, Thomsen PE. Premature atrial beat eliciting atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting. J Electrocardiol. 1995;28:297–305
  5. Saltman AE, Tselentakis EV, Gaudette GR, Krukenkamp IB. Inflammation and atrial fibrillation (arachidonic acid decreases atrial conduction velocity in a fiber orientation dependent manner). Circulation. 2002;106(suppl):II-344
  6. Chung MK, Martin DO, Sprecher D, Wazni O, Kanderian A, Carnes CA, et al.  C-reactive protein elevation in patients with atrial arrhythmias (inflammatory mechanisms and persistence of atrial fibrillation). Circulation. 2001;104:2886–2891
  7. Allessie MA, Wijffels MC, Dorland R. Mechanisms of pharmacologic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation by Class I drugs. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 1998;9(suppl):S69–77
  8. Saltman AE, Chandry J, Gaudette GR, Murtha JJ, Krukenkamp IB. Topical application of anti-inflammatory drugs prevents postoperative atrial fibrillation in a canine model. Surg Forum. 2000;51:76-8
  9. Kalman JM, Munawar M, Howes LG, Louis WJ, Buxton BF, Gutteridge G, et al.  Atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting is associated with sympathetic activation. Ann Thorac Surg. 1995;60:1709–1715

PII: S0022-5223(03)01554-X

doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2003.04.004

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Volume 127, Issue 2 , Pages 311-313 , February 2004

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