Is Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation Benign or Worrisome?

The answer: Worrisome.

Perioperative atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs in 15% to 40% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery and a smaller proportion of patients with noncardiac surgery. Some clinicians view it as benign and self-limiting whereas others have raised the possibility of an increased stroke risk. These authors conducted a meta-analysis of studies that assessed perioperative AF and reported on short-term (within 30 days of the operation) strokes or death and long-term strokes or death. Studies that included patients with prior AF were excluded.

The authors found 35 studies for inclusion with a total of 2,458,000 patients. All but 3 of the studies had a preponderance of men, and 29 studies centered on patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Follow-up ranged f…

Reviewing Author

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Is Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation Benign or Worrisome?

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Reviewing Author