Future directions: American College of Chest Physicians guidelines for the prevention and management of postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.
The recommendations put forth in these guidelines for the management and prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery are based on information available at the time of the final literature review. As a result, they will become dated as new information and results from new trials becomes available. The maintenance of clinical practice guidelines is an evolving process requiring the alteration of recommendations over time, based on new studies and new results. The current set of guidelines attempts not only to identify new therapeutic options for AF after cardiac surgery but also to develop a strategy to indicate how and when to update the guidelines themselves.
McKeown
Peter
P
Department of Surgery, Veterans Affairs Medical Center Asheville, NC 28805, USA. peter.mckeown@med.va.gov
Epstein
Andrew E
AE
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants