BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a well-established post-cardiac surgery complication. Orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) represents a peculiar condition where surgical thoracic veins isolation and autonomic denervation occur. This study aims at investigating AF incidence in OHT in order to define its risk factors and to evaluate its prognostic impact.Methods278 patients affected by OHT were recruited in our Cardiac Surgery Unit and retrospectively analyzed, using clinical, surgical and instrumental data.ResultsThe patients cohort showed 45 post-operative (16.5%) and 20 late AF cases (7.2%). Only paroxysmal AF episodes were observed. Elderly donors and acute rejection resulted as risk factors in patients with post-operative AF episodes, who presented higher all-cause mortality at 11?years post-OHT (p?
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