title: [Atrial fibrillation in the ICU. Distinct entity--special treatment?].
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the single most frequent arrhythmia in the intensive care unit, occurring among 44-61 % of all patients with arrhythmias in the intensive care unit. The success rate of electrical cardioversion (DC-CV) early after surgery is as low as 10-35 % in postoperative AF but 6 weeks after discharge 90 % are in sinus rhythm (SR). Several guidelines recommend rate control in these patients and rate control with β-blockers and calcium channel blockers is not inferior with respect to outcome, 6 min walk test, and quality of life. DC-CV is recommended in unstable and heart failure patients. The term resistant AF is suggested for that distinct situation of AF not amenable to cardioversion solely in the acute phase of critical illness.
authors: Abteilung für Kardiologie, Intensivstation 13H3, Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin II, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Wien, Österreich, gottfried.heinz@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Heinz
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016638:Critical Illness; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000925:Anticoagulants; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers
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