Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia, affecting an estimated 2 million people in the United States (Table 1). The data from the Framingham indicate that the prevalence of AF increases with age, affecting as many as 4% of people 60 to 65 years of age, and 10% of those ≥ 80 years. AF can occur in the absence of underlying heart disease but is more frequent in connection with mitral valve disorder, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension. In addition to the devastating symptoms, AF confers a four to five-fold increase in the risk of stroke compared to the general population; a significant risk of tachycardia mediated cardiomyopathy that has been associated with a doubling of all causes of mortality.1 During the past decade, limited success rates of drug treatment stimulated an exploration of interventional treatment options for AF…

Background: Acute stress response to heart surgery can cause major morbidity in PATIENTs. The trace of selenium is useful for preventing heart damage. Although the trend of selenium changes is of high importance for body balance, the usefulness of routine use and eff ectiveness of this element for PATIENTs under open-heart surgery is still unclear. Objectives: This study aimed at assessing serum selenium level before and after open-heart surgery and the relationship between selenium trace and PATIENT OUTCOME. Methods: This prospective analytical study was performed on 100 PATIENTs undergoing open-heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In all PATIENTs, the serum level was measured at a predetermined time (before surgery and one and two days after surgery). Then, the relationship between serum selenium and PATIENT OUTCOME was assessed. Results: The mean serum selenium level in PATIENTs on admission was 72. 90  14. 62  g/L, one day after surgery was 71. 20  15. 84  g/L, and two days after surgery was 71. 54  15. 97  g/L. Serum selenium levels were inversely and signifi cantly associated with age (r =-0. 183; P = 0. 034, 013) duration of surgery (r =-221 and P = 0. 014), duration of intensive care unit stay (r = 0. 204, P = 0. 021), and duration of CPB (r = 0. 223, P = 013). Conclusions: Based on this study’ s results, a low level of selenium can aff ect PATIENTs’ OUTCOMEs after open-heart surgery.