The impact of beta-blocker use on postoperative atrial fibrillation after aortic valve replacement

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most common complication after cardiac surgery with the reported incidence from 20% to 50%, depending on the type of surgery, definition and the diagnostic tools (1-4). The POAF is associated with increased risks of morbidity and mortality from hemodynamic instability, heart failure, thromboembolism and bleeding from anticoagulation (1-4). The pathophysiologic mechanisms of POAF have been considered to be multi-factorial. These included postoperative inflammatory reaction, surge of catecholamines, imbalance of autonomic nervous system, changes in intravascular volume status and substrates created by surgical procedure itself such as alterations in cardiac structures and perioperative ischemia (5-10)