Control of Atrial Fibrillation in Mitral Valvular Heart Surgery [90 Cases]

승모판막 수술환자에서의 심방세동에 관한 치료관찰

Ninety patients underwent mitral valvular heart surgery associated with or without aortic valve surgery and subjected to a clinical study in relation to their control of postoperative atrial fibrillation. There were 26 males and 64 females ranged in age from 16 to 56 years with a mean of 35.2 years. Systemic arterial embolizations were observed in 11 patients [12.2%]. Four patients of them were in normal sinus rhythm and 7 in atrial fibrillation. Out of these, left atrial thrombi were found only in 2 at the operation. Intraoperatively confirmed left atrial thrombi were in 16 patients [17.7%] of all 90 patients: Eleven patients occurred at the age of more than 40 years, 14 were in atrial fibrillation and 2 only had previous episodes of systemic arterial embolization. Sixty three patients underwent isolated mitral valve surgery [OMC 28, MVR 35] and 27 patients associated with aortic valve surgery along with mitral valve [OMC+AVR 13, MVR+AVR 14]. Preoperatively, 44 patients [48.9%] were in normal sinus rhythm. Of them, 35 patients [79.5%] revealed normal sinus rhythm thoroughly after operation without any aid of digitalis or quinidine and 5 patients [11.4%] restored normal sinus rhythm with digitalization alone. Other 3 patients converted to normal sinus rhythm with the addition of quinidine, however, in 1 patient who was resistant to quinidine therapy, electrocardioversion was carried out on the postoperative third week showing normal sinus rhythm. Thus, the most atrial fibrillations that occurred for the first time in the postoperative period, were able to reverted to normal sinus rhythm responding well to antiarrhythmic therapy. Preoperatively, 46 patients [51.1%] were in atrial fibrillation. Of them, only 5 patients returned to sinus rhythm after operation without any aid of digitalis or quinidine and other 5 restored normal sinus rhythm with digitalization: namely 2 restored within early postoperative period and 3 after more than 3 months. Eight patients well responded to quinidine therapy showing normal Sinus rhythm. So far, 25 patients have remained in persistent atrial fibrillation on 6 to 36 months follow-up. In view of these, 17 patients [68%] were over 40 years of age, 22[80%] had long duration of symptom over 5 years and 10[40%] have had atrial thrombi before operation. Left atrial dimension were still more than 40mm in 21 patients on follow up M-mode echocardiogram. One month after operation, 87 hospital survivors were improved by at least one functional NYHA class. There were 3 operative deaths [3.3%, bleeding 1, LCOS 2] and 4 late deaths [LCOS 1, valve thrombosis 1, late bleeding 1, fulminant hepatitis 1] during follow-up period. According to our limited experience, we may conclude that better results will be expected with the addition of quinidine therapy judiciously in the cases of postoperative persistent atrial fibrillation who were aged or had longer history of symptom and left atrial thrombi.