J Korean Geriatr Soc.  2003 Dec;7(4):367-371.

A Case of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation before Induction of General Anesthesia in an Elderly Patient

• Park SC
• Kim TY
• Yoon CS
• Lee JH

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation(AF) diagnosed by fibrillatory waves of atrial activity and an irregular ventricular response on ECG is a common arrhythmia associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mor- tality. The incidence of AF increases markedly with advancing age and the presence of congestive heart failure. Most patients with AF can be attributed to organic heart disease such as rheumatic, atherosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease. But there is an increasing awareness of so-called lone AF which has no underlying cardiac or metabolic abnormality. We report a case of paroxysmal AF developed just before the induction of anesthesia in a 73-year-old patient who had no history of cardiovascular disease.

Keyword

Atrial fibrillation; Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; Advancing age

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, General*
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Atrial Fibrillation*
Cardiovascular Diseases
Electrocardiography
Heart Diseases
Heart Failure
Humans
Incidence