“…That is why the ESC guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation recommend that treatment should be started at least 1 week before surgery with a beta 1 -blocker without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (Camm et al, 2010). The beta-blockers used in studies assessing atrial fibrillation prevention in cardiac surgery were propranolol (Matangyi et al, 1985), atenolol (Lamb et al, 1988), metoprolol (Lucio et al, 2004Kamei et al, 2006;Celik et al, 2009), acebutolol (Daudon et al, 1986), timolol (White et al, 1984), carvedilol (Kamei et al, 2006;Celik et al, 2009), betaxolol (Iliuta et al, 2009), either compared to control or to another beta-blocker.…”