Study: Rate, Rhythm Control Both Effective in Treating Post-op Afib

Atrial fibrillation is a common result of heart surgery, but a Cleveland Clinic study finds that rate, rhythm control are equally safe and beneficial.

Published: May 9, 2016

An all-too-common consequence of heart surgery is atrial fibrillation (afib), an abnormal heart rhythm marked by the chaotic beating of the hearts upper chambers (atria). Instead of beating in a strong, synchronous rhythm with the lower chambers (ventricles), the atria quiver and do a poorer job moving blood into the ventricles, which pump it out to the rest of the body.