Post Operative Arrhythmias

Heart rhythm disturbances are being increasingly recognized during the postoperative period. While many are transient and short lived without altering the recovery phase after cardiac or non-cardiac surgery, they do have the potential to pose a threat to patient’s health, prolong hospital stay, and in a minority of patients may even cause death. Continuous monitoring is becoming the standard of care after surgery and therefore rhythm disturbances are being more frequently diagnosed during the postoperative recovery period. While cardiology consultation may be required, surgeons and anesthesiologists are often the first responders and are expected to be able to recognize the rhythm disturbance and treat them appropriately.