Cardiac Rhythm Disturbances Complicating Resectional Surgery of the Lung

Abstract

The records of 574 patients who underwent resectional lung surgery were studied to define the incidence, associated causal factors and the clinical course of arrhythmias occurring in the postoperative period. The overall incidence or arrhythmias was 3.1%. All were atrial in origin with fibrillation the most commonly encountered rhythm disturbance. The incidence of arrhythmias following left pneumonectomy was found to be significantly higher than following right pneumonectomy. Those factors which seemed to predispose to the development of postoperative arrhythmias were advancing age, extensive lung resection and the presence of pre-existing cardiovascular disease. No correlation was noted between the development of rhythm disturbances and pre-anesthetic medication or anesthetic agents. The rhythm disturbances were found to occur most frequently during the first postoperative week, 87% occurring between the 2nd and 6th postoperative days inclusive. The arrhythmias were found to be very susceptible to digitalis therapy and spontaneous remission was noted in 2 cases. Because of the high incidence of arrhythmias in certain groups of patients undergoing resectional lung surgery and the predilection of the rhythm disturbances to occur between the 2nd and 6th postoperative days Inclusive, it is felt that prophylactic drug therapy may be of value in postoperative care.