title: Perioperative cardiac issues: postoperative arrhythmias.
abstract: This article reviews current concepts about the diagnosis and acute management of postoperative arrhythmias. A systematic approach to diagnosis of arrhythmias and evaluation of predisposing factors is presented, followed by consideration of common bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias in the postoperative setting. Postoperative arrhythmias are common and represent a major source of morbidity after surgical procedures, both cardiac and noncardiac. Postoperative dysrhythmias are most likely to occur in patients with structural heart disease. The initiating factor for an arrhythmia following surgery is usually a transient insult such as hypoxemia, cardiac ischemia, catecholamine excess, or electrolyte abnormality. Management includes correction of these imbalances and, if clinically indicated, medical therapy directed at the arrhythmia itself.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology and Critical Care Medicine, Cooper University Hospital, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, One Cooper Plaza, Camden, New Jersey 08103, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Heintz
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hollenberg
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D015996:Survival Rate; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents