Table 2. Comparison of efficacy of various postoperative atrial fibrillation interventions.
| Treatment/intervention | NNT for POAF prevention | NNT for stroke/adverse event prevention | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perioperative beta-blocker | 6 | (27,33) | |
| Preoperative amiodarone | 7 | (30) | |
| Postoperative amiodarone | 7 | 83 (stroke) | (33,52) |
| Surgical left atrial appendage occlusion | 45 (late stroke) | (48) | |
| Posterior pericardiectomy | 7 | (38,39) | |
| Colchicine | 10–11 | (62,63) | |
| Magnesium supplementation | 12 | (68) | |
| Oral anticoagulation | 125 (early stroke) | (75) | |
| Direct oral anticoagulant vs. vitamin K antagonists | 204 (prevent stroke) | (76) | |
| 143 (prevent bleeding) |
Early stroke defined as occurring within 30 days of surgery. Late stroke defined as occurring more than 30 days after surgery. NNT, number needed to treat; POAF, postoperative atrial fibrillation.