Arrhythmias following cardiac surgery.

One of the many new problems created by cardiac surgery is the management of post-operative disturbances of rhythm. The following observations are based on 48 cases seen during the last 18 months at the Brompton Hospital, where it is our practice to give digitalis before operation to all cardiac cases. Clinically theproblems fall into three main groups: (1) Cases of " tachycardia" which give rise to concern during the first post-operative week; (2) the restoration of sinus rhythm after mitral valvotomy in cases with established atrial fibrillation before operation; (3) cases in which atrial flutter developed after closure of an atrial septal defect. The management of heart block after closure of ventricular septal defects and problems of resuscitation associated with ventricular fibrillation are not included.