Despite the reported limitations, our study
does not support the hypothesis that postoperative
AF is associated with an increased
late mortality, rate of stroke or rehospitalization.
Restoration of sinus rhythm before
hospital discharge may have significantly
limited the negative prognostic effects of
post operative atrial fibrillation.
At present, the guidelines of the American
College of Chest Physician state that OPCABG
cannot be recommended to decrease
postoperative AF because of conflicting results
resulted from randomized controlled
trials or large-scale concurrent cohort studies