Recovery of heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity following open heart surgery

Dynamic measures of heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensivity (BRS) may uncover the postoperative course of patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. 162 patients participated in a prospective study; Cardiovascular signals were recorded the day before, 24 h after surgery, one week and three month after surgery. Time domain parameters of heart rate variability showed a significant (p = 8,9-10~ ) decline 24 h after surgery and a significant recovery (p = 0,00049) first week after surgery. The bradycardic and tachycardic regulation strength regenerated similar. Furthermore the number of tachycardiac regulations decreased significant (p = ) within the first week after surgery. The HRV and BRS parameters of the autonomic system obviously show a tendency towards recovery after coronary artery surgery.