Reduced incidence of atrial fibrillation with minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent complication after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of postoperative AF after minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) in comparison with CABG.

Methods: Between November 1995 and May 1997, 96 MIDCAB procedures were performed. During the same period, 42 patients underwent traditional single CABG using the left internal mammary artery graft (S-CABG). The incidence of in-hospital AF, defined as a sustained episode requiring treatment, was compared between the two groups.

Results: There was no difference in age, ejection fraction, or preoperative risk score between the groups. The use of beta-blockers before or after surgery was not different. The incidence of postoperative AF in the first 6 weeks after surgery was 4% (4 of 96) for MIDCAB and 28% (12 of 42) for S-CABG (p = 0.003). Patients with postoperati