Objective

Post-operative atrial fibrillation (AF) after major lung resection such as pneumonectomy and lobectomy is a recognised complication. This study aims to determine if VAT lobectomy has an impact on the incidence of AF following surgery.

Methods

337 patients underwent lobectomy from March 2013 to April 2015. 266 patients, who had single lobectomies without any associated procedures, were divided into two groups; VAT-lobectomy (106 patients) or open-lobectomy (160 patients) and analysed the incidence of new post op AF.

Results

106 patients had VATS & 160 had open lobectomies. Median age was 68 years with 42% ≥70 years. Female were 52%. There was no mortality in any group. The overall AF incidence was 6.7% & significantly lower (2.8%) in VATS vs 9.3% in thoracotomy group. AF incidence in left and right lobectomies was 10% & 8.8% in thoracotomy group and 1.9% & 3.8% in VATS group respectively. AF in male & female was 7.5% & 11% in open and 4% & 1.7% in VATS group respectively. Overall median stay was longer in AF group.

Conclusion

This retrospective study has shown that there is a significant reduction in the incidence of post op AF in VATS lobectomies than compared with open lobectomies’ patients. AF resulted in prolonged hospital stay in both groups. Further studies are needed to confirm this novel finding.