Mechanisms, Prevention, and Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology Vol. 51; no. 8; pp. 793 - 801
• Main Authors: Echahidi, Najmeddine, MD, Pibarot, Philippe, DVM, PhD, FACC, FAHA, O’Hara, Gilles, MD, FACC, Mathieu, Patrick, MD, FRCSC
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 26.02.2008; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Atrial Fibrillation - etiology; Atrial Fibrillation - prevention & control; Atrial Fibrillation - therapy; Cardiac arrhythmia; Cardiac Surgical Procedures - adverse effects; Cardiology; Cardiovascular; Heart surgery; Humans; Internal Medicine; Mortality; Postoperative period; POAF; post-operative atrial fibrillation; OR; AF; CI; HR; coronary artery bypass graft; odds ratio; N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; atrioventricular; atrial fibrillation; AV; hazard ratio; confidence interval; CABG; PUFAs
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2007.10.043

Mechanisms, Prevention, and Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery Najmeddine Echahidi, Philippe Pibarot, Gilles O’Hara, Patrick Mathieu Post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a frequent complication after a heart surgery. This post-operative arrhythmia is associated with an increased risk of perioperative thromboembolism and mortality along with a substantial economic impact for the health care system. The aim of this state-of-the-art review is to present the current state of knowledge about POAF and provide insights into the risk factors, causal mechanisms, prevention, and treatment of this frequent post-operative complication.