OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and clinical correlates of postoperative cardiac arrhythmias in patients undergoing elective large bowel resection. METHODS: Fifty-one consecutive patients undergoing elective open colorectal resection were recruited for this prospective observational study. Participating patients underwent daily three-lead electrocardiograms postoperatively. Data regarding potential risk factors for arrhythmias were recorded. Post-operative complications were recorded. RESULTS: Thirteen (26%) patients developed a postoperative arrhythmia, most commonly atrial fibrillation. Significant univariate correlates with postoperative arrhythmias were: age (P<0.01), hypertension (P<0.01), pre-operative serum potassium levels (P<0.01), postoperative pulmonary oedema (P=0.03), postoperative serum potassium (P=0.03) and sodium (P<0.01). Arrhythmia patients were more likely to have other complications (P=0.02). Thirty-one percent of arrhythmia patients had underlying sepsis compared with 18% of controls (P=0.38). CONCLUSION: Arrhythmias are common following elective large bowel resection. They occur in older patients and are associated with the development of other complications.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and clinical correlates of postoperative cardiac arrhythmias in patients undergoing elective large bowel resection. METHODS: Fifty-one consecutive patients undergoing elective open colorectal resection were recruited for this prospective observational study. Participating patients underwent daily three-lead electrocardiograms postoperatively. Data regarding potential risk factors for arrhythmias were recorded. Post-operative complications were recorded. RESULTS: Thirteen (26%) patients developed a postoperative arrhythmia, most commonly atrial fibrillation. Significant univariate correlates with postoperative arrhythmias were: age (P<0.01), hypertension (P<0.01), pre-operative serum potassium levels (P<0.01), postoperative pulmonary oedema (P=0.03), postoperative serum potassium (P=0.03) and sodium (P<0.01). Arrhythmiapatients were more likely to have other complications (P=0.02). Thirty-one percent of arrhythmiapatients had underlying sepsis compared with 18% of controls (P=0.38). CONCLUSION:Arrhythmias are common following elective large bowel resection. They occur in older patients and are associated with the development of other complications.
Authors: O'Dene Lewis; Julius Ngwa; Richard F Gillum; Alicia Thomas; Wayne Davis; Vishal Poddar; George R Adams; Alvin Jr Thomas; Alem Mehari Journal: Ethn Dis Date: 2016-04-21 Impact factor: 1.847
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