What is the risk of recurrence of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery?
A systematic review and meta-analysis of postoperative atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients discharged in sinus rhythm after cardiac surgery found that the incidence of recurrence was 26.3% (95% CI: 17.9-35.7%), with a median recurrence time of 8 days (IQR=4-14). Furthermore, a study by Park-Hansen et al. found that new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation was likely to recur in the absence of other triggers. Therefore, the risk of recurrence of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery is moderate. 