Non-invasive evaluation of new-onset atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery

This is a prospective two-centre observational study of patients developing new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) after cardiac surgery. The primary outcome is the description of NOAF-maintaining structures within the atria. Key secondary outcomes include overall mortality, intensive care unit length of stay, hospital-ventilator-free days, and proportion of persistent NOAF. In NOAF patients, the non-invasive electrophysiological mapping will be conducted using a 252-electrode electrocardiogram vest. After mapping, a low-dose computed tomography scan of the chest will be performed to integrate the electrophysiological mapping results into a 3D picture of the heart. The study will include approximately 570 patients, of whom 30% (n = 170) are expected to develop NOAF. A sample size calculation revealed that 157 NOAF patients are necessary for assessing the primary outcome. Patients will be tracked for a total of 5 years.