Atrial fibrillation is not just an artefact in the ICU.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is particularly frequent (46%) in septic shock patients. Inflammation favours AF in the general population, and there is a growing body of evidence that inflammation also plays a role in AF occurring after cardiac surgery but also in the general ICU. How such a finding could modify the therapeutic approach remains elusive. The impact of AF on mortality is not clearly demonstrated in the ICU, with AF reflecting essentially the severity of the underlying disease.
Seguin
Philippe
P
Service d'Anesthésie-Réanimation 1, Service de Réanimation Chirurgicale, Hôpital Pontchailllou, 2 rue Henri Le Guilloux, 35033 Rennes cedex, France. philippe.seguin@chu-rennes.fr.
Launey
Yoann
Y
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000150:complications