1. Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery: A Review of Literature and Comparison of Different Treatment Modalities.
- Author
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Halonen J, Kärkkäinen J, Jäntti H, Martikainen T, Valtola A, Ellam S, Väliaho E, Santala E, Räsänen J, Juutilainen A, Mahlamäki V, Vasankari S, Vasankari T, and Hartikainen J
- Subjects
- Humans, Risk Factors, Postoperative Complications etiology, Postoperative Complications prevention & control, Postoperative Complications epidemiology, Atrial Fibrillation epidemiology, Atrial Fibrillation etiology, Atrial Fibrillation prevention & control, Cardiac Surgical Procedures adverse effects, Stroke etiology
- Abstract
Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia to occur after cardiac surgery, with an incidence of 10% to 50%. It is associated with postoperative complications including increased risk of stroke, prolonged hospital stays and increased costs. Despite new insights into the mechanisms of atrial fibrillation, no specific etiologic factor has been identified as the sole perpetrator of the arrhythmia. Current evidence suggests that the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation in general, as well as after cardiac surgery, is multifactorial. Studies have also shown that new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery is associated with a higher risk of short-term and long-term mortality. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that prophylactic medical therapy decreases the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. Of note, the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation has not changed during the last decades despite the numerous preventive strategies and operative techniques proposed, although the perioperative and postoperative care of cardiac patients as such has improved., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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