Effect of Aortic Cross-Clamping Time on Development of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation in Isolated CABG: A Single-Center Prospective Clinical Study

ABSTRACT Introduction: Many etiological factors affect the occurrence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting. In this study, the relationship between cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamping times and the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation was examined. Methods: All patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting with the same surgical team in our clinic between September 2018 and December 2019 were prospectively included in the study, and their perioperative data were recorded. Results: One hundred and three patients who met the specified criteria were included in the study. The median age was 62 (interquartile range: 54-71) years, and 82 (79.6%) were male. The patients were divided into two groups: those who developed atrial fibrillation and those who did not. Atrial fibrillation developed in 25 of 103 patients (24.3%). All patients underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting under standard cardiopulmonary bypass. The median duration of cardiopulmonary bypass was 72 (interquartile range: 63-97) minutes in those with atrial fibrillation and 82 (61-98) minutes in those without it, and there was no statistical difference (P=0.717). The median cross-clamping time was 40 (32.5-48) minutes in those with atrial fibrillation and 39.5 (30-46) minutes in those without it. Statistically, the relationship between cross-clamping time and atrial fibrillation was not significant (P=0.625). Conclusion: Our study found no significant relationship between cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamping times and the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation. However, we believe that there is a need for large-scale and multicenter clinical studies on the subject.