Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation Increases 1 Year Mortality after Spine Surgery

Spine surgery is a common procedure in older patients. These patients usually suffer from other underlying diseases, including a significant proportion of patients who have atrial fibrillation. Previous studies have shown that perioperative atrial fibrillation has a significant influence on mortality in patients with hip fractures. We conducted this study to see if this effect appears in elective spinal surgery.

Hospital database was searched for patients older than 60, who had a perioperative atrial fibrillation around a spine surgery. 66 patients were meeting these criteria. They were matched by age, gender and the type of surgery to 132 patients without atrial fibrillation. One year mortality was recorded. In addition, we examined other risk factors for mortality, such as significant background diseases, drug treatment, and other data.

The results showed a mortality rate of 19.69% in the fibrillation group compared to 7.57% in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.012). In a multivariate analysis, we found that atrial fibrillation and obstructive pulmonary disease are two independent factors to increase mortality.

The results of this study have important implications for the decision-making process in selecting candidates for spine surgery. Based on emerging research and similar studies in the past, there is room for meticulous preoperative preparation and postoperative treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation referred to spine surgery.