Strategies for perioperative arrhythmias.
Rapid 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.
Amar
David
D
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
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents