Non-Atriotomy Surgical Ablation Is Associated With a Reduction of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is common after cardiac operations, and effective intraoperative techniques aimed at reducing POAF focus on limiting left atrial triggers through posterior pericardiotomy or pulmonary vein isolation. Prophylactic left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is increasingly used in hopes of preventing POAF-associated strokes. We sought to compare the incidence of POAF in patients undergoing prophylactic LAAO with or without a prophylactic non-atriotomy surgical ablation (NASA).