Atrial electromechanical delay in patients undergoing heart transplantation

• Published in: Journal of arrhythmia Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 122 - 126
• Main Authors: Bulut, Mustafa, MD, Evlice, Mert, MD, Celik, Mehmet, MD, Eren, Hayati, MD, Savluk, Ömer F., MD, Acar, Rezzan D., MD, Tabakci, Mustafa, MD, Emiroglu, Mehmet Y., MD, Otcu (Nurse), Ozlem, Kargin, Ramazan, MD, Balkanay, Mehmet, MD, Akcakoyun, Mustafa, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-04-2017; Elsevier; Wiley
• Subjects: Atrial electromechanical coupling; Atrial electromechanical delay; Atrial fibrillation; Blood pressure; Cardiac arrhythmia; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular disease; Doppler effect; Doppler tissue imaging; Ejection fraction; Electrocardiography; Heart rate; Heart transplantation; Heart transplants; Original; Population; Sinuses; Statistical analysis; Surgical anastomosis; Atrial electromechanical coupling; Doppler tissue imaging; Heart transplantation; Atrial fibrillation; Atrial electromechanical delay
• ISSN: 1880-4276; 1883-2148
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joa.2016.07.015

Abstract Background We aimed to assess atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) in patients who had undergone heart transplantation. Methods A total of 32 patients who underwent biatrial anastomosis heart transplantation (24 men, 8 women; mean age: 42±11 years) and 30 healthy volunteers (20 men, 10 women; mean age: 36±13 years) were included in the study. Atrial electromechanical coupling (PA), intra-AEMD, and inter-AEMD were measured. Results PA lateral (68±7 vs. 51±11 ms, p <0.01), PA septal (50±5 vs. 42±8 ms, p < 0.01) and PA tricuspid (39±6 vs. 36±9 ms, p <0.01), inter-AEMD (PA lateral–PA tricuspid) (27±7 vs. 10±4 ms, p <0.01), left intra-AEMD (PA lateral–PA septal) (18±7 vs. 10±4 ms, p <0.01), right intra-AEMD (PA septal–PA tricuspid) (13±5 vs. 5±3 ms, p <0.01) values were higher in patients who underwent heart transplantation than in a control population. Conclusion Inter-AEMD and intra-AEMD were prolonged in patients who underwent heart transplantation as compared to a control population. This may explain the increased atrial fibrillation and other atrial arrhythmia incidences associated with the biatrial anastomosis heart transplantation technique and may contribute to the treatment of atrial fibrillation in this special patient group.