Can white blood cell count be used as a predictor of atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery? A short literature review

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common complications occurring after cardiac surgery. Despite advances in anaesthetic and surgical techniques, the incidence of this arrhythmia has not changed, and evidence suggests its incidence may be increasing (1). Postoperative AF is an important predictor of patient morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, increased hospitalization costs and mortality after cardiac surgery (2). Therefore, any efforts to reduce the incidence rate of postoperative AF such as identification of high risk patients with a predictor and their management with intensive prophylactic measures will cut the associated morbidity, mortality and costs significantly (1-3).