• David Amar.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 1275 York Avenue, Room M-304, New York, NY 10021, USA. amard@mskcc.org
• Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2004 Dec 1; 18 (4): 565-77.

AbstractRapid atrial arrhythmias affect close to one million elderly Americans who undergo cardiac or non-cardiac operations annually and have been associated with prolonged hospital stays. In contrast, bradyarrhythmias or ventricular arrhythmias severe enough to require treatment occur in less than 1% of patients who undergo all types of surgery, including cardiac. This article focuses on new issues leading to the improved understanding of the pathophysiology and mechanisms of post-operative atrial arrhythmias. New approaches directed at prophylaxis and acute therapy of atrial arrhythmias are discussed, as are recommendations to prevent thromboembolic events. Practice and research agenda are proposed.

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