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(Circulation. 2008;118:1605-1606.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.

Clinical Summaries

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

	Atrial Fibrillation After Isolated Coronary Surgery Affects Late Survival

 
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in the general population and a frequent postoperative complication of cardiac surgery. AF is now widely recognized as a risk factor for stroke and other thromboembolic complications and heart failure. This leads to a substantial disease burden and significant medical costs. Although many studies have examined the impact of AF on the perioperative period, none has managed to present compelling data that support an independent association between postoperative AF and late mortality. Despite attempts to account for confounding, it remains a distinct possibility that AF is as associated with mortality as with potentially fatal comorbidities. Previously published studies have not provided plausible direct mechanisms that link postoperative AF with late mortality. In addition, the causes of death have not been investigated. In this study, we aimed to ascertain the impact of AF after coronary surgery on postoperative survival, assessing its prognostic role on cause-specific mortality. Our data have given perspective on the possible role of AF among these patients and the effect of embolic events in causing mortality. See p 1612.

	Milrinone Use Is Associated With Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery

 
Approximately 500 000 patients undergo cardiac surgery in the United States each year. Postoperative atrial fibrillation is a common complication after surgery that causes morbidity and prolongs hospitalization. Milrinone use on the day of surgery was associated with an increased risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation even after controlling for other risk factors such as age, ejection fraction, and increased pulmonary artery pressure. These findings have clinical and financial implications. Milrinone . . . [Full Text of this Article]