Previous studies have suggested that demographic information,27 (link) clinical data, medications,28 (link) and complications29 (link) were associated with the incidence of POAF. Preoperative cardiac function was assessed by ECG (including sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, arrhythmia, myocardial ischemia, conduction block, P-wave, PR interval, and QTc interval) and ultrasonic cardiogram (UCG) (including MR, tricuspid regurgitation [TR], LV mass, segmental wall motion abnormality, left atrium [LA] volume, LV ejection fraction [LVEF], rheumatic heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, aortic sinus inner diameter, and E/A]). Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were used to estimate the severity of the patient’s illness on the day of ICU admission. Clinical variables containing prior health history, thoracic surgery, surgery procedure, laboratory blood tests, postoperative complications, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, and hospital stays were collected from the electronic medical record system.
Echocardiography was performed by an experienced sonographer who had received advanced training and certification in echocardiographic imaging, according to the guidelines of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE). M-mode echocardiography was used to measure LA dimensions, and the LVEF was calculated with Simpson’s method. Doppler echocardiography assessed early (E) and late (A) diastolic mitral inflow velocities and the E/A ratio.30 (link),31 (link)