Anticoagulation strategies for the management of postoperative atrial fibrillation

Patients undergoing thoracic and cardiac procedures are at the highest risk for postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). POAF is associated with poor short-term and long-term outcomes, including high rates of early and late stroke, and late mortality. Patients with POAF that persists for longer than 48 hours should be anticoagulated on warfarin. Three new oral anticoagulants are available for the treatment of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and have been found to be as efficacious or superior to warfarin in the prevention of stroke in high-risk patients, with similar to lower rates of major bleeding, and lower rates of intracranial hemorrhage.