Around10%ofpatientswithatrialfibrillationmustbeoper-ated on each year, which offers a perioperative challenge forthesurgicalteam.Traditionally,bridginganticoagulationther-apies have been used with heparin based on the argumentthat suspending the anticoagulation for long periods of timeincreasestheriskofthromboembolicevents.However,thereisno consensus regarding this management strategy. Currently,the American College of Chest Physicians