Medical School Faculty and Students publish meta-analysis on heart surgery risks

A meta-analysis led by Clinical Assistant Professor George Bazoukis has found that patients with atrial fibrillation face a significantly higher risk of death when undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The study features the research contributions of fourth-year graduate-entry MD students Leigh Cohen and Swogyan Gurung, highlighting the active involvement of our students in medical research.

The study, published in the Journal of Atrial Fibrillation & Electrophysiology, examined atrial fibrillation (AF) – an irregular heart rhythm – in people with severe aortic stenosis (narrowing of the heart’s aortic valve) who undergo TAVI, a minimally invasive heart procedure.

By combining data from 26 studies involving more than 110,000 patients, the research team made significant findings. New-onset AF after TAVI increased the risk of death by 67%, whilst pre-existing AF increased the risk by 65%. Both intermittent (paroxysmal) and persistent forms of AF were linked to higher mortality, with results consistent across study types and patient populations.

The authors emphasise that careful monitoring for new-onset AF after TAVI is essential, particularly as this condition affects up to 35% of patients undergoing the procedure. Strategies to maintain a normal heart rhythm or use targeted antiarrhythmic therapy may improve survival, but further clinical studies are needed to confirm these benefits.