Rate Control versus Rhythm Control for Atrial Fibrillation after Cardiac Surgery.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery is associated with increased rates of death, complications, and hospitalizations. In patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation who are in stable condition, the best initial treatment strategy--heart-rate control or rhythm control--remains controversial.

Methods

Patients with new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation were randomly assigned to undergo either rate control or rhythm control. The primary end point was the total number of days of hospitalization within 60 days after randomization, as assessed by the Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

Results

Postoperative atrial fibrillation occurred in 695 of the 2109 patients (33.0%) who were enrolled preoperatively; of these patients, 523 underwent randomization. The tota

SUBMITTER: Gillinov AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4908812 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature