INFLUENCE OF BICAVAL ANASTOMOSES ON LATE OCCURRENCE OF ATRIAL ARRHYTHMIA AFTER HEART-TRANSPLANTATION

Background. The standard technique for orthotopic heart transplantatio n includes right and left atrial anastomoses, which potentially distur b the integrity of the donor atria. Consequently, electrophysiologic a bnormalities such as atrial nutter and fibrillation may occur even lat e after heart transplantation. Methods. Over a 3-year period, 39 heart transplantations were performed using a standard right atrial anastom osis (group A), and 40 were done using bicaval anastomoses (group B). In each group, data of 30 consecutive patients with a minimum follow-u p of 9 months were reviewed retrospectively to assess the incidence of atrial arrhythmia after hospital discharge. Results. Early postoperat ively, there was no difference in the duration of temporary pacemaker requirement and incidence of permanent pacemaker implantation (group A , 7%; group B, 7%; not significant) between the two groups. In 12 pati ents in group A (40%), 16 episodes of atrial nutter and fibrillation w ere detected 20 to 205 days after heart transplantation. In group B, 1 patient (4%) suffered from atrial fibrillation on day 116 after the o peration (p < 0.001). Conclusions. Preservation of the integrity of th e right donor atrium by construction of bicaval anastomoses results in a significantly decreased incidence of atrial Butter and fibrillation after hear transplantation when compared with the standard technique.