The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database: Intraoperative Echocardiography Reporting.

OBJECTIVES: To identify trends in the reporting of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) data in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD) and the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology (ACA) module by period, practice type, and geographic distribution, and to elucidate ongoing areas for practice improvement. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: STS ACSD. PARTICIPANTS: Procedures reported in the STS ACSD between July 2017 and December 2021 in participating programs in the United States. INTERVENTIONS: None MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Intraoperative TEE is reported for 73% of all procedures in ACSD. Although the intraoperative TEE data reporting rate increased from 2017 to 2021 for isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery, it remained low at 62.2%. The reporting of relevant echocardiographic variables across a wide range of procedures has steadily increased over the study period but also remained low. The reporting in the ACA module is high for most variables and across all anesthesia care models; however, the overall contribution of the ACA module to the ACSD remains low. CONCLUSIONS: This progress report suggests a continued need to raise awareness regarding current practices of reporting intraoperative TEE in the ACSD and the ACA, and highlights opportunities for improving reporting and data abstraction.

Red Blood Cell Transfusion and Pulmonary Complications: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion during cardiac surgery is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality; however, data on the association between PRBC transfusion and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are somewhat conflicting. Using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database, we sought to determine whether intraoperative PRBC transfusion was associated with PPCs as well as with longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. METHODS: A registry-based cohort study was performed on 751,893 patients with isolated CABG between January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019. Using propensity score-weighted regression analysis, we analyzed the effect of intraoperative PRBC on the incidence of PPCs (hospital-acquired pneumonia [HAP], mechanical ventilation for >24 hours, or reintubation), ICU length of stay, and ICU readmission. RESULTS: Transfusion of 1, 2, 3, and ≥4 units of PRBCs was associated with increased odds for HAP (odds ratios [ORs], 1.24 [95% CI, 1.21-1.26], 1.28 [95% CI, 1.26-1.32], 1.36 [95% CI, 1.33-1.39], 1.31 [95% CI, 1.28-1.34]), reintubation (ORs, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.21-1.25], 1.38 [95% CI, 1.35-1.40], 1.57 [95% CI, 1.55-1.60], 1.70 [95% CI, 1.67-1.73]), prolonged ventilation (ORs, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.33-1.36], 1.56 [95% CI, 1.53-1.58], 1.97 [95% CI, 1.94-2.00], 2.27 [95% CI, 2.24-2.30]), initial ICU length of stay (mean difference in hours, 6.79 [95% CI, 6.00-7.58], 9.55 [95% CI, 8.71-10.38], 17.26 [95% CI, 16.38-18.15], 22.14 [95% CI, 21.22-23.06]), readmission to ICU (ORs, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.12-1.64], 1.15 [95% CI, 1.12-1.17], 1.15 [95% CI, 1.13-1.18], 1.32 [95% CI, 1.29-1.35]), and additional ICU length of stay (mean difference in hours, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.18-0.92], 0.38 [95% CI, 0.00-0.77], 1.02 [95% CI, 0.61-1.43], 1.83 [95% CI, 1.40-2.26]), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative PRBC transfusion was associated with increased incidence of PPCs, prolonged ICU stay, and ICU readmissions after isolated CABG surgery.

Development and Publication of Clinical Practice Parameters, Reviews, and Meta-analyses: A Report From the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Presidential Task Force.

The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) is committed to improving the quality, safety, and value that cardiothoracic anesthesiologists bring to patient care. To fulfill this mission, the SCA supports the creation of peer-reviewed manuscripts that establish standards, produce guidelines, critically analyze the literature, interpret preexisting guidelines, and allow experts to engage in consensus opinion. The aim of this report, commissioned by the SCA President, is to summarize the distinctions among these publications and describe a novel SCA-supported framework that provides guidance to SCA members for the creation of these publications. The ultimate goal is that through a standardized and transparent process, the SCA will facilitate up-to-date education and implementation of best practices by cardiovascular and thoracic anesthesiologists to improve patient safety, quality of care, and outcomes.

Association of Intraoperative Red Blood Cell Transfusions With Venous Thromboembolism and Adverse Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: We determined whether intraoperative packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion was associated with a higher incidence of hospital-acquired venous thromboembolic (HA-VTE) complications and adverse outcomes after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. BACKGROUND: Intraoperative PRBC has been associated with increased risk for postoperative deep venous thrombosis after cardiac surgery, but validation of these findings in a large, multi-institutional, national cohort of cardiac surgery patients has been lacking. METHODS: A registry-based cohort study of 751,893 patients with isolated CABG between January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019. Using propensity score-weighted regression analysis, we analyzed the effect of intraoperative PRBC on the incidence of HA-VTE and adverse outcomes. RESULTS: Administration of 1, 2, 3, and ≥4 units of PRBC transfusion was associated with increased odds for HA-VTE [odds ratios (ORs): 1.27 (1.22-1.32), 1.21 (1.16-1.26), 1.93 (1.85-2.00), 1.82 (1.75-1.89)], deep venous thrombosis [ORs: 1.39 (1.33-1.46), 1.38 (1.32-1.44), 2.18 (2.09-2.28), 1.82 (1.74-1.91], operative mortality [ORs: 1.11 (1.08-1.14), 1.16 (1.13-1.19), 1.29 (1.26-1.32), 1.47 (1.43-1.50)], readmission within 30 days [ORs: 1.05 (1.04-1.06), 1.16 (1.13-1.19), 1.29 (1.26-1.32), 1.47 (1.43-1.50)], and a prolonged postoperative length of stay [mean difference in days, 0.23 (0.19-0.27), 0.34 (0.30-0.39), 0.69 (0.64-0.74), 0.77 (0.72-0.820]. The odds of pulmonary venous thromboembolism were lower for patients transfused with 1 or 2 units [ORs: 0.98 (0.91-1.06), 0.75 (0.68-0.81)] of PRBC but remained significantly elevated for those receiving 3 and ≥4 units [ORs: 1.19 (1.09-1.29), 1.35 (1.25-1.48)]. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative PRBC transfusion was associated with HA-VTE and adverse outcomes after isolated CABG surgery.

Red Blood Cell Transfusion and Postoperative Infection in Patients Having Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery: An Analysis of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most common cardiac surgical procedure in the world and up to one-third of patients are transfused red blood cells (RBCs). RBC transfusion may increase the risk for health care-associated infection (HAI) after CABG, but previous studies have shown conflicting results and many did not establish exposure temporality. Our objective was to explore whether intraoperative RBC transfusion is associated with increased odds of postoperative HAI. We hypothesized that intraoperative RBC transfusion would be associated with increased odds of postoperative HAI. METHODS: We performed an observational cohort study of isolated CABG patients in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons adult cardiac surgery database from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019. The exposure was intraoperative RBC transfusion modeled as 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4+ units. The authors focused on intraoperative RBC transfusion as a risk factor, because it has a definite temporal relationship before postoperative HAI. The study's primary outcome was a composite HAI variable that included sepsis, pneumonia, and surgical site infection (both deep and superficial). Mixed-effects modeling, which controlled for hospital as a clustering variable, was used to explore the relationship between intraoperative RBC transfusion and postoperative HAI. RESULTS: Among 362,954 CABG patients from 1076 hospitals included in our analysis, 59,578 patients (16.4%) received intraoperative RBCs and 116,186 (32.0%) received either intraoperative or postoperative RBCs. Risk-adjusted odds ratios for HAI in patients who received 1, 2, 3, and 4+ intraoperative RBCs were 1.11 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.20; P = .005), 1.13 (95% CI, 1.05-1.21; P = .001), 1.15 (95% CI, 1.04-1.27; P = .008), and 1.14 (95% CI, 1.02-1.27; P = .02) compared to patients who received no RBCs. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative RBC transfusion is associated with a small increase in odds of HAI in CABG patients. Future studies should explore whether reductions in RBC transfusion can also reduce HAIs.

Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Clinical Practice Update for Management of Acute Kidney Injury Associated With Cardiac Surgery.

Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) is common and is associated with increased risk for postoperative morbidity and mortality. Our recent survey of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) membership showed 6 potentially renoprotective strategies for which clinicians would most value an evidence-based review (ie, intraoperative target blood pressure, choice of specific vasopressor agent, erythrocyte transfusion threshold, use of alpha-2 agonists, goal-directed oxygen delivery on cardiopulmonary bypass [CPB], and the "Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes [KDIGO] bundle of care"). Thus, the SCA's Continuing Practice Improvement Acute Kidney Injury Working Group aimed to provide a practice update for each of these strategies in cardiac surgical patients based on the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases were comprehensively searched for eligible studies from inception through February 2021, with search results updated in August 2021. A total of 15 RCTs investigating the effects of the above-mentioned strategies on CS-AKI were included for meta-analysis. For each strategy, the level of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Across the 6 potentially renoprotective strategies evaluated, current evidence for their use was rated as "moderate," "low," or "very low." Based on eligible RCTs, our analysis suggested using goal-directed oxygen delivery on CPB and the "KDIGO bundle of care" in high-risk patients to prevent CS-AKI (moderate level of GRADE evidence). Our results suggested considering the use of vasopressin in vasoplegic shock patients to reduce CS-AKI (low level of GRADE evidence). The decision to use a restrictive versus liberal strategy for perioperative red cell transfusion should not be based on concerns for renal protection (a moderate level of GRADE evidence). In addition, targeting a higher mean arterial pressure during CPB, perioperative use of dopamine, and use of dexmedetomidine did not reduce CS-AKI (a low or very low level of GRADE evidence). This review will help clinicians provide evidence-based care, targeting improved renal outcomes in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database: 2021 Update on Echocardiography.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD) is the world's premier clinical outcomes registry for adult cardiac surgery and a driving force for quality improvement in cardiac surgery. Echocardiographic data provide a wealth of hemodynamic, structural, and functional data and have been part of STS ACSD data collection since its inception. An increasing body of evidence suggests that the use of echocardiography in patients undergoing cardiac surgery has a positive impact on postoperative outcomes. In this report, we describe and summarize the type and rate of reporting of echocardiography-related variables in the STS ACSD, including the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Module, from July 2017 to December 2019 for the most frequently performed cardiac surgical procedures. With this review, we aim to increase awareness of the importance of collecting accurate and consistent echocardiography data in the STS ACSD and to highlight opportunities for growth and improvement.

Dexmedetomidine, Delirium, and Adverse Outcomes: Analysis of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database.

BACKGROUND: We tested the hypothesis that dexmedetomidine was associated with a reduced incidence of postoperative delirium (POD) and adverse outcomes in cardiac surgery patients from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database including the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology subsection. METHODS: We identified 55,905 patients in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database who underwent cardiac surgery between July 2014 and December 2018. Using propensity score-weighted regression analysis, we analyzed the effect of intraoperative dexmedetomidine on the primary (POD) and secondary outcomes (highest pain score on day 3 and at discharge, stroke, prolonged ventilation, postoperative intubation/reintubation, additional postoperative hours ventilated, renal failure, atrial fibrillation, and 30-day mortality). In separate propensity score-weighted analyses, we examined the effect of postoperative dexmedetomidine on the highest postoperative pain score at discharge and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: The rate of intraoperative dexmedetomidine use was 25.5% (n = 13,963), and its administration was associated with increased odds for POD (odds ratio, 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60-2.13), a small higher average pain score on day 3 (mean difference, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.02-0.14), increased odds for postoperative intubation/reintubation (odds ratio, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.12-1.48), and a small lower average pain score at discharge (mean difference, -0.31; 95% CI, -0.21 to-0.41). Postoperative dexmedetomidine was associated with a small higher average pain score at discharge (mean difference, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.21-0.34) and higher odds for 30-day mortality (odds ratio, 1.25, 95% CI, 1.07-1.46). CONCLUSIONS: In this registry of cardiac surgical patients dexmedetomidine administration was associated with POD and adverse outcomes.

Potential Renoprotective Strategies in Adult Cardiac Surgery: A Survey of Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Members to Explore the Rationale and Beliefs Driving Current Clinical Decision-Making.

OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to (1) characterize the rationale underpinning anesthesiologists' use of various perioperative strategies hypothesized to affect renal function in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, (2) characterize existing belief about the quality of evidence addressing the renal impact of these strategies, and (3) identify potentially renoprotective strategies for which anesthesiologists would most value a detailed, evidence-based review. DESIGN: Survey of perioperative practice in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. SETTING: Online survey. PARTICIPANTS: Members of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS & MAIN RESULTS: The survey was distributed to more than 2,000 SCA members and completed in whole or in part by 202 respondents. Selection of target intraoperative blood pressure (and relative hypotension avoidance) was the strategy most frequently reported to reflect belief about its potential renal effect (79%; 95% CI: 72-85). Most respondents believed the evidence supporting an effect on renal injury of intraoperative target blood pressure during cardiac surgery was of high or moderate quality. Other factors, including a specific nonrenal rationale, surgeon preference, department- or institution-level decisions, tradition, or habit, also frequently were reported to affect decision making across queried strategies. Potential renoprotective strategies most frequently requested for inclusion in a subsequent detailed, evidence-based review were intraoperative target blood pressure and choice of vasopressor agent to achieve target pressure. CONCLUSIONS: A large number of perioperative strategies are believed to variably affect renal injury in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, with wide variation in perceived quality of evidence for a renal effect of these strategies.

The Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section of STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database: 2020 Update on Quality and Outcomes.

The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, in partnership with The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, has developed the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section of the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. The goal of this landmark collaboration is to advance clinical care, quality, and knowledge, and to demonstrate the value of cardiac anesthesiology in the perioperative care of cardiac surgical patients. Participation in the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section has been optional since its inception in 2014 but has progressively increased. Opportunities for further growth and improvement remain. In this first update report on quality and outcomes of the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section, we present an overview of the clinically significant anesthesia and surgical variables submitted between 2015 and 2018. Our review provides a summary of quality measures and outcomes related to the current practice of cardiothoracic anesthesiology. We also emphasize the potential for addressing high-impact research questions as data accumulate, with the overall goal of elucidating the influence of cardiac anesthesiology contributions to patient outcomes within the framework of the cardiac surgical team.

The Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section of STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database: 2020 Update on Quality and Outcomes.

The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, in partnership with The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, has developed the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section of the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. The goal of this landmark collaboration is to advance clinical care, quality, and knowledge, and to demonstrate the value of cardiac anesthesiology in the perioperative care of cardiac surgical patients. Participation in the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section has been optional since its inception in 2014 but has progressively increased. Opportunities for further growth and improvement remain. In this first update report on quality and outcomes of the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section, we present an overview of the clinically significant anesthesia and surgical variables submitted between 2015 and 2018. Our review provides a summary of quality measures and outcomes related to the current practice of cardiothoracic anesthesiology. We also emphasize the potential for addressing high-impact research questions as data accumulate, with the overall goal of elucidating the influence of cardiac anesthesiology contributions to patient outcomes within the framework of the cardiac surgical team.

Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Clinical Practice Improvement Advisory for Management of Perioperative Bleeding and Hemostasis in Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Bleeding after cardiac surgery is a common and serious complication leading to transfusion of multiple blood products and resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Despite the publication of numerous guidelines and consensus statements for patient blood management in cardiac surgery, research has revealed that adherence to these guidelines is poor, and as a result, a significant variability in patient transfusion practices among practitioners still remains. In addition, although utilization of point-of-care (POC) coagulation monitors and the use of novel therapeutic strategies for perioperative hemostasis, such as the use of coagulation factor concentrates, have increased significantly over the last decade, they are still not widely available in every institution. Therefore, despite continuous efforts, blood transfusion in cardiac surgery has only modestly declined over the last decade, remaining at ≥50% in high-risk patients. Given these limitations, and in response to new regulatory and legislature requirements, the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) has formed the Blood Conservation in Cardiac Surgery Working Group to organize, summarize, and disseminate the available best-practice knowledge in patient blood management in cardiac surgery. The current publication includes the summary statements and algorithms designed by the working group, after collection and review of the existing guidelines, consensus statements, and recommendations for patient blood management practices in cardiac surgery patients. The overall goal is creating a dynamic resource of easily accessible educational material that will help to increase and improve compliance with the existing evidence-based best practices of patient blood management by cardiac surgery care teams.

Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Clinical Practice Improvement Advisory for Management of Perioperative Bleeding and Hemostasis in Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Bleeding after cardiac surgery is a common and serious complication leading to transfusion of multiple blood products and resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Despite the publication of numerous guidelines and consensus statements for patient blood management in cardiac surgery, research has revealed that adherence to these guidelines is poor, and as a result, a significant variability in patient transfusion practices among practitioners still remains. In addition, although utilization of point of care coagulation monitors and the use of novel therapeutic strategies for perioperative hemostasis, such as the use of coagulation factor concentrates, has increased significantly over the last decade, they are still not widely available in every institution. Therefore, despite continuous efforts, blood transfusion in cardiac surgery has declined only modestly over the last decade, remaining at 50% or greater in high-risk patients. Given these limitations and in response to new regulatory and legislature requirements, the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists has formed the Blood Conservation in Cardiac Surgery Working Group in order to organize, summarize, and disseminate the available best-practice knowledge in patient blood management in cardiac surgery. The current publication includes the summary statements and algorithms designed by the working group, after collection and review of the existing guidelines, consensus statements, and recommendations for patient blood management practices in cardiac surgery patients. The overall goal is creating a dynamic resource of easily accessible educational material that will help to increase and improve compliance with the existing evidence-based best practices of patient blood management by cardiac surgery care teams.

Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists/European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthetists Practice Advisory for the Management of Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (poAF) is the most common adverse event after cardiac surgery and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and increased hospital and intensive care unit length of stay. Despite progressive improvements in overall cardiac surgical operative mortality and postoperative morbidity, the incidence of poAF has remained unchanged at 30% to 50%. A number of evidence-based recommendations regarding the perioperative management of atrial fibrillation (AF) have been released from leading cardiovascular societies in recent years; however, it is unknown how closely these guidelines are being followed by medical practitioners. In addition, many of these society recommendations are based on patient stratification into "normal" and "elevated" risk groups for AF, but criteria for that stratification have not been defined clearly. In an effort to improve the perioperative management of AF, the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) Clinical Practice Improvement Committee developed a multidisciplinary Atrial Fibrillation Working Group that created a summary of current best practices based on distillation of recent guidelines from professional societies involved in the care of cardiac surgical patients. An evidence-based set of survey questions then was generated to describe the current practice of perioperative AF management. Through a collaboration with the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthetists (EACTA), that survey was distributed to the combined memberships of both the SCA and the EACTA, yielding 641 responses and resulting in the most comprehensive understanding to date of perioperative AF management in North America and Europe and beyond. The survey data demonstrated the broad range of therapies used for prevention and treatment of poAF, as well as a spectrum of adherence to published guidelines. With the goal of improving adherence, a graphical advisory tool was created with an easily accessible format that could be used for bedside management. Finally, given that no evidence-based threshold currently exists to differentiate patients at normal risk of developing poAF from those at elevated risk, the SCA/EACTA AF working group created a list of poAF risk factors using expert opinion, based on published risk score models for poAF. This allows stratification of patients into risk groups and facilitates adherence to the evidence-based recommendations summarized in the graphical advisory tool. It is the working group's hope that these new additions to the clinical toolkit for management of perioperative AF will improve the evidence-based care and outcomes of cardiac surgical patients worldwide.

Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists/European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthetists Practice Advisory for the Management of Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (poAF) is the most common adverse event after cardiac surgery and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and hospital and intensive care unit length of stay. Despite progressive improvements in overall cardiac surgical operative mortality and postoperative morbidity, the incidence of poAF has remained unchanged at 30%-50%. A number of evidence-based recommendations regarding the perioperative management of atrial fibrillation (AF) have been released from leading cardiovascular societies in recent years; however, it is unknown how closely these guidelines are being followed by medical practitioners. In addition, many of these society recommendations are based on patient stratification into "normal" and "elevated" risk groups for AF, but criteria for that stratification have not been clearly defined. In an effort to improve the perioperative management of AF, the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) Clinical Practice Improvement Committee developed a multidisciplinary Atrial Fibrillation Working Group that created a summary of current best practice based on a distillation of recent guidelines from professional societies involved in the care of cardiac surgical patients. An evidence-based set of survey questions was then generated to describe the current practice of perioperative AF management. Through collaboration with the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthetists (EACTA), that survey was distributed to the combined memberships of both the SCA and EACTA, yielding 641 responses and resulting in the most comprehensive understanding to date of perioperative AF management in North America, Europe, and beyond. The survey data demonstrated the broad range of therapies utilized for the prevention and treatment of poAF, as well as a spectrum of adherence to published guidelines. With the goal of improving adherence, a graphical advisory tool was created with an easily accessible format that could be utilized for bedside management. Finally, given that no evidence-based threshold currently exists to differentiate patients at normal risk to develop poAF from those at elevated risk, the SCA/EACTA AF working group created a list of poAF risk factors using expert opinion and based on published risk score models for poAF. This approach allows stratification of patients into risk groups and facilitates adherence to the evidence-based recommendations summarized in the graphical advisory tool. It is our hope that these new additions to the clinical toolkit for the management of perioperative AF will improve the evidence-based care and outcomes of cardiac surgical patients worldwide.