Age & weight predict fatal heartbeat

People over 65 years of age and those who are overweight are at an increased risk for potentially fatal heartbeats after bypass surgery. These heartbeat irregularities, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, demand immediate treatment to prevent death. Patients who develop ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation after heart surgery are at very high risk for death. The current study identifies several risk factors for these irregular heart rhythms. Researchers from the Bristol Royal Infirmary in the UK, gathered data on 4411 patients undergoing heart bypass surgery. Of these, 26 percent underwent "beating heart" surgery in which the organ is not temporarily stopped as is usually done. In all, 69 patients experienced ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation and 15 were among the 61 patients who died within 30 days of surgery. In addition to older age and being overweight, female gender, poor heart function, and treatment with a device to help the heart pump were all linked to an increased risk of irregular heart rhythm. In contrast, patients who underwent beating heart surgery had a reduced risk of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. The team notes that although the in-hospital death rate was high in the ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation group, nearly all patients who survived this period were alive 2 years later.

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