Atrial fibrillation post coronary artery bypass surgery: is there still a role for perioperative statins after STICS?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). It is estimated to occur in about one-third of the patients post-CABG (1-3). In a prospective observational study of 1,878 consecutive patients undergoing CABG, post-CABG AF was associated with a four-fold increased risk of disabling stroke and a three-fold increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (1).