Postoperative atrial fibrillation: from mechanisms to treatment.

TitlePostoperative atrial fibrillation: from mechanisms to treatment.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2023
AuthorsGaudino M, Di Franco A, Rong LQ, Piccini J, Mack M
JournalEur Heart J
Date Published2023 Jan 31
ISSN1522-9645
Abstract

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most common type of secondary atrial fibrillation (AF) and despite progress in prevention and treatment, remains an important clinical problem for patients undergoing a variety of surgical procedures, and in particular cardiac surgery. POAF significantly increases the duration of postoperative hospital stay, hospital costs, and the risk of recurrent AF in the years after surgery; moreover, POAF has been associated with a variety of adverse cardiovascular events (including stroke, heart failure, and mortality), although it is still unclear if this is due to causal relation or simple association. New data have recently emerged on the pathophysiology of POAF, and new preventive and therapeutic strategies have been proposed and tested in randomized trials. This review summarizes the current evidence on the pathogenesis, incidence, prevention, and treatment of POAF and highlights future directions for clinical research.

DOI10.1093/eurheartj/ehad019
Alternate JournalEur Heart J
PubMed ID36721960