Treatment of Postoperative New Onset Atrial Fibrillation with Repolarization Delaying Agents after Heart Surgery.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the multichannel-blocker dronedarone for postoperative new onset atrial fibrillation (POAF) as compared to amiodarone.

Methods: Out of 990 patients who underwent cardiothoracic surgery between March 2011 and March 2012, 166 patients who developed POAF and treated with amiodarone or dronedarone were enrolled in this study.

Results: Eighty-nine patients were treated with amiodarone and 77 patients were treated with dronedarone at discharge.

Less invasive surgical implant strategy and right heart failure after LVAD implantation.

Background: Conventional median sternotomy (CMS) is still the standard technique utilized to implant left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Recent studies suggest that less invasive surgery (LIS) may be beneficial; however, robust data on differences in right heart failure (RHF) are lacking. This study aimed to determine the impact of LIS compared with that of CMS on RHF outcomes after LVAD implantation.

Less-invasive ventricular assist device implantation: A multicenter study.

Background: Left ventricular assist device has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment option for patients with end-stage heart failure. However, there is limited evidence showing the effect of the implantation approach on postoperative morbidities and mortality. We aimed to compare left ventricular assist device implantation using conventional sternotomy versus less-invasive surgery including hemi-sternotomy and the minithoracotomy approach.