Atrial fibrillation is characterized by beat to beat irregularity of shape, size, conduction time and polarity. The mechanism of atrial fibrillation can be explained by so called "Multiple wavelet theory".
The adverse effect of atrial fibrillation is the decrease of cardiac output by absence of atrial kick(1015%) and the possibility of thrombosis in the left atrium which is dangerous to develop the thromboembolisin is increased.
The present study was designed to assess the effect of overdrive pacing on the suppression of recurring of atrial fibrillation after open heart surgery and the results were summarized as follows :
1. There were no significant differences of factors between converting patients and non-converting patients to normal sinus rhythm by electric cardioversion after open heart surgery.
2. Among converting patients to normal sinus rhythm, there were no significant differences of factors between study group and control group.
3. Cardiothoracic Ratio on the preoperative chest film was significantly larger in the patients of recurring atrial fibrillation within 72hrs than in the patients of maintaining normal sinus rhythm. (61.71.40/o vs 67.72.4%, p=0.03)
4. There was a significant difference of suppressive effects between overdrive pacing group and control group among recurred cases until 24, 48, and 72hours. (Fisher´s exact test p=0.037, p=0.076, p=0.53, respectively)
5. There was a difference of the delay of recurring of atrial fibrillation between study group and control group among recurred cases within 72 hours. (53.46.9hr vs. 19.33.8 hr, p<0.01)
We think that the overdrive pacing may suppress the natural pacemaker and the converted normal sinus rhythm is maintained longer than control group during critical imm- ediate postoperative period.
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