**1. Introduction**

240 Special Topics in Cardiac Surgery

Zangrillo, A.; Londoni, G.; Sparicio, D.; Pappalardo, F.; Bove, T.; Cerchierini, E.; Sottocoma,

Zebis, L.; Christensen, T.; Thomsen, H.; Mikkelsen, M.; Folkersen, L.; Sørensen, H. &

Zimmer, J.; Pezzullo, J.; Choucair, W.; Southard, J.; Kokkinos, P.; Karasik, P.; Greenberg, M.

*The American Journal of Cardiology*, Vol.91, pp. 1137-1140, ISSN 1879-1913

723-728, ISSN 1532-8422

1331, ISSN 0003-4975

O.; Aletti, G. & Crescenzi, G. (2005). Perioperative magnesium supplementation to prevent atrial fibrillation after off-pump coronary artery surgery: a randomized controlled study. *Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia,* Vol.19, No.6, pp.

Hjortdal, V. (2007). Practical regimen for amiodarone use in preventing postoperative atrial fibrillation. *The Annals of Thoracic Surgery*, Vol.83, pp. 1326-

& Singh S. (2003). Meta-analysis of antiarrhythmic therapy in the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation and the effect on hospital length of stay, costs, cerebrovascular accidents, and mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

> Heart rhythm disturbances are being increasingly recognized during the postoperative period. While many are transient and short lived without altering the recovery phase after cardiac or non-cardiac surgery, they do have the potential to pose a threat to patient's health, prolong hospital stay, and in a minority of patients may even cause death. Continuous monitoring is becoming the standard of care after surgery and therefore rhythm disturbances are being more frequently diagnosed during the postoperative recovery period. While cardiology consultation may be required, surgeons and anesthesiologists are often the first responders and are expected to be able to recognize the rhythm disturbance and treat them appropriately.
