ICU Cases · Perioperative critical care
Hot case — the bedside: postoperative atrial fibrillation
A CICM hot case on the postoperative AF — the commonest postoperative arrhythmia (peaking day 2 to 3), managed by the rate control or the cardioversion if unstable, and the cause treatment.
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Prompt
At the bedside of a 72-year-old man, day 2 after a colectomy, who develops AF at 140 per minute with the hypotension. Assess and manage.
Presentation
You are called to the bedside of a 72-year-old man, day 2 after an open colectomy, who has developed the irregularly irregular pulse at 140 per minute, with the blood pressure of 88/55 and the breathlessness. The ECG confirms the AF with the rapid ventricular response.[1]
References2ShowHide
- [1]Bersten AD, Soni N (eds) Oh's Intensive Care Manual. 8th edition, Elsevier, 2018.
- [2]Marino PL The ICU Book. 4th edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2014.