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William F McIntyre, MD, PhD, FRCPC, from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, discusses his session ahead of Heart Rhythm 2025, which takes place April 24-27, 2025.

Tell us about your upcoming session and what you will be presenting on. 

This is a joint session of the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society (CHRS) and the European Heart Association (EHRA). The session is titled “Unresolved Issues in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation (AF).” I will be presenting on the management of postoperative AF.

Summarize the background and relevance of the topic.

New-onset postoperative AF (POAF) occurs after 1%-10% of non-cardiac surgeries and after 30%-50% of cardiac surgeries. POAF is important because it is associated with mortality, morbidity, and increased health care costs. 

What are the take-home messages you would like viewers to leave with? 

·       Correcting the ”drivers” of AF often takes care of the AF as well.

·       Neither rate nor rhythm control has been shown to be superior—use clinical judgement. 

·       Don’t commit to a long-term oral anticoagulation plan in the hospital—follow the patient and look for AF recurrence. 

·       Left atrial size is the best predictor of AF recurrence.