Study of Cardiac Rhythm Disorders in Post-Operative Period Following Cardiac Surgery in Cotonou: Incidence and Associated Factors

<i>Introduction: </i>The occurrence of cardiac rhythm disorders (CRDs) is a frequent and often serious complication following cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, nature, and potential risk factors associated with new-onset postoperative CRDs following cardiac surgical procedures. <i>Material and Method: </i>This was a prospective, descriptive, and analytical study conducted at the Cardiology Unit of the CNHU-HKM in Cotonou over a 31-month period, spanning from March 2021 to September 2023. We included, via exhaustive enrolment, all consecutive patients of all ages and both sexes who underwent cardiac surgery during the study period. Patients with pre-existing CRDs were excluded. The primary variables studied were the incidence of CRDs diagnosed during the first 30 postoperative days and the identification of associated demographic, clinical, and surgical risk factors. <i>Results: </i>A total of one hundred and two patients were included. The mean age was 38±14.39 years, with age extremes ranging from 12 to 66 years. The sex ratio was 0.92. The overall incidence of new postoperative CRDs, monitored until postoperative day 30, was 37.2% (38 cases). The most frequently observed CRDs were atrial fibrillation (42.1% of all CRDs, 16 cases) and atrial flutter (23.7%, 9 cases). Less common rhythm disturbances included junctional tachycardia (13.2%, 5 cases), sustained ventricular tachycardia (13.2%, 5 cases), and atrial tachycardia (7.9%, 3 cases). Factors found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of CRDs were age greater than 50 years (p=0.001) and tricuspid plasty (p=0.035). <i>Conclusion: </i>Postoperative cardiac rhythm disorders are frequent complications after cardiac surgery in our setting, with atrial fibrillation being the predominant type. These findings emphasize the need for rigorous monitoring in older patients and those undergoing complex valve repairs. Future studies, based on a larger sample size, are recommended to validate these findings and identify further associated factors to improve prevention strategies.