Category: Cardiac health

Over 150,000 patients in the United States undergo catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AFib) each year. A crucial part of preparing for the procedure involves knowing what medications should be stopped before ablation to ensure safety and success.

With a narrow therapeutic window, flecainide, a potent Class IC antiarrhythmic drug, carries a significant risk of toxicity, with mortality rates as high as 22% reported in severe cases. It is crucial for patients and healthcare professionals to understand **how to check for flecainide toxicity** to ensure early detection and prompt intervention.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery, affecting roughly one-third of patients [1.4.4]. A key strategy in preventing this is prescribing beta blockers, but a frequent question is: **how long do you take beta blockers after open heart surgery?**