Relationship of blood transfusion and increased risk of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Back ground: New onset atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery contributes to increased morbidity, hospital length of stay and resource utilization. Although many aspects of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery is obvious, the mechanism by which cardiac surgery predispose spatients to AF is unknown as yet. Recent evidence support an inflammatory role in development of AF. Blood transfusion augmented the inflammatory response and so incidence of postoperative AF. Retrospective study from January 2005 to July 2007 on 2095 patients who underwent isolated CABG with or without valve replacement. Variables associated with development of new onset AF were identified by logistic regression. Blood transfusion was performed in 487 patients that was associated with a significant increase in new onset of AF (45.9% vs 37.9%; p<0.01). Blood transfusion can increase the incidence of new onset AF after cardiac surgery. This factor should be considered in identifying patients who might benefit from prophylais to prevent this common postoperative complication and its adverse consequencies.