Does off-pump coronary bypass surgery reduce the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation?

Aim: We aimed to determine whether there was a difference in the incidence of new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) between off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) and conventional on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CCABG) surgery. In addition, we also aimed to determine the parameters that will help in the preoperative identification of patients who develop POAF. 

Material and Methods: A total of 100 patients who underwent CCABG (Group 1) and 100 patients who underwent OPCAB (Group 2) were included in this retrospective observational cohort study, and the groups were then compared with each other in terms of preoperative, operative and postoperative patient characteristics. In addition, patients with and without POAF were compared according to their characteristics in both groups. 

Results: New-onset POAF occurred in 16 of 100 patients in Group 1 and 18 of 100 patients in Group 2, and this difference was not statistically significant. Patients with POAF were significantly older than those without POAF in both Group 1 and Group 2. In addition, it was found that in only Group 2 the mean LVPS was significantly lower while the mean duration of hospital stay was significantly higher in patients with POAF than those without POAF. 

Conclusion: We suggested that advanced age was the most significant predictor of POAF development following CABG. According to the findings of our study, except for age there was no reliable indicator that can predict POAF development, although the mean LVPS was found to be lower in patients with POAF than those without POAF in OPCAB group. Nevertheless, further prospective well-designed studies with larger patient participation are required to support the findings of our study and obtain more valuable and powerful scientific evidence.