Prophylaxis and therapy of tachycardias following cardiac surgery

Cardiac arrhythmias are frequently observed in patients after cardiac surgery. Especially atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are observed in up to 39% of patients in the early postoperative period following cardiac surgery. Arrhythmias are associated with an increased morbidity, resulting in longer stays in the intensive care unit and the hospital. In recent years, guidelines have been established offering substantial data and protocols in diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias after cardiac surgery. This article, designed for junior members in the field of cardiovascular intensive care, serves as a short review integrating the database of recent key publications and defining the current state-of-the-art in diagnosis and therapy of cardiac arrhythmias after cardiac surgery.