title: Anticoagulation: American College of Chest Physicians guidelines for the prevention and management of postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.
abstract: Post-cardiac surgery atrial fibrillation (AF) places patients at risk for thromboembolism and stroke, while the surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass alter the multiple factors of coagulation and may increase the tendency to bleed. It is in the context of this complex clinical picture that the physician must make decisions regarding the risks and benefits of anticoagulation therapy to lower the risk for thromboembolism and stroke associated with postoperative AF. Physicians must also weigh the usually transient and self-limited duration of new-onset postoperative AF against the potential for postoperative bleeding if anticoagulation therapy is started. No randomized, controlled clinical trials are available that specifically address the problem of anticoagulation therapy for the postoperative AF. In that context, recommendations are based on the established therapy for nonsurgical situations modified by the potential risk of bleeding in the postoperative patient.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Tinsley Harrison Tower 321L, 1530 Third Ave Sooth, Birmingham, AL 35294-0006, USA. aepstein@uab.edu
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Gutterman
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maisel
authors.forename: J Marcus
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wharton
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants