After ICI discharge daily ECG or predischarge (Jansen et al., 1986; Evrard et al., 2000) Holter monitoring was used to detect arrhythmias. In some cases the monitoring may be continued beyond the hospital stay for 30 (Guarnieri et al., 1999) up to 90 days (Weber et al., 1990). The use of the Holter monitor makes extended monitoring more feasible than when ECG was the only option.

Several anomalies have been found to act as indicators that AF may occur. For instance, prolonged P-wave duration was found to be an indicator of reoccurring AF (Gialiafos, 1999; Steinberg et al., 1993). Patients with a clinical history of AF were found to have a significantly longer intra-atrial and inter-atrial conduction time of sinus impulses (Centurion et al., 2002). The presence of preoperative supraventricular arrhythmias and fluctuations in autonomic balance were identified in some, but not all studies as a risk factor for post...
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