Impact of Prophylactic Postoperative β-Blockade on Post-Cardiothoracic Surgery Length of Stay and Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that post-cardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of hospital length of stay (LOS), overall mortality, pulmonary edema, and need for a balloon pump. A meta-analysis of 2 previous trials showed a nonsignificant reduction in LOS with postoperative beta-blockers but only encompassed 1200 patients, with few valve surgery patients, and neither study used a hospital within the US. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of postoperative beta-blockers on LOS and AF. Secondary endpoints of overall mortality, pulmonary edema, and need for an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) were also evaluated between groups. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort evaluation of all patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery at our institution between October 1999 and October 2003. Patients receiving prophylactic postoperative beta-blockers were matched (1:1) with patients not receiving prophylaxis for age >70 years, valvular surgery, history of AF, gender, and use of preoperative digoxin and beta-blockers. RESULTS: Patients (n = 1660) receiving postoperative beta-blockade had a reduction in LOS (mean +/- SD 10.22 +/- 11.38 vs 12.40 +/- 15.67; p = 0.001) and AF (23.5% vs 28.4%; p = 0.02). Mortality, pulmonary edema, and need for IABP were reduced by >50% (p < 0.001; p = 0.001; p < 0.001, respectively), while myocardial infarction and stroke were not significantly impacted. CONCLUSIONS: In this observational cohort study, prophylactic postoperative beta-blocker use was associated with shorter hospital LOS by an average of 2.2 days and a 17.3% lower incidence of AF. It may also be associated with reductions in overall mortality, pulmonary edema, and need for an IABP.