1. An International Survey of the Management of Atrial Fibrillation in Critically Unwell Patients
- Author
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Brian W. Johnston, MD, Andrew A. Udy, MD, PhD, Daniel F. McAuley, MD, Martin Mogk, Dipl.-Math, Ingeborg D. Welters, MD, PhD, and Stephanie Sibley, MD, SM
- Subjects
Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid ,RC86-88.9 - Abstract
OBJECTIVES:. To evaluate the current management of new-onset atrial fibrillation and compare differences in practice regionally. DESIGN:. Cross-sectional survey. SETTING:. United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. SUBJECTS:. Critical care attending physicians/consultants and fellows. INTERVENTIONS:. None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:. A total of 386 surveys were included in our analysis. Rate control was the preferred treatment approach for hemodynamically stable patients (69.1%), and amiodarone was the most used antiarrhythmic medication (70.9%). For hemodynamically unstable patients, a strategy of electrolyte supplementation and antiarrhythmic therapy was most common (54.7%). Physicians responding to the survey distributed by the Society of Critical Care Medicine were more likely to prescribe beta-blockers as a first-line antiarrhythmic medication (38.4%), use more transthoracic echocardiography than respondents from other regions (82.4%), and more likely to refer patients who survive their ICU stay for cardiology follow-up if they had new-onset atrial fibrillation (57.2%). The majority of survey respondents (83.0%) were interested in participating in future studies of atrial fibrillation in critically ill patients. CONCLUSIONS:. Significant variation exists in the management of new-onset atrial fibrillation in critically ill patients, as well as geographic variation. Further research is necessary to inform guidelines in this population and establish if differences in practice impact long-term outcomes.
- Published
- 2024
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