Arrythmia after open heart surgery

[Tired55]

My husband had open heart surgery for a mitral valve repair on Oct. 18th of this year. He did very well during and after the surgery but is just now developing an arrythmia, scheduled for a 24 hr. Holter Monitor this coming Monday. My question is: why would he just now start having an arrythmia when he didn't have any prior to the surgery and none postop? Also, he coughs when he's having whatever kind of arrythmia it is ,(I'm thinking A-fib but have never ascultated anyone with A-fib,so I don't know what it sounds like). His heart rate also dropped to 38 during one episode but he did not tell me until the following day. We will not have the results of the Holter Monitor until this coming Wed.;I'm wondering if it will be safe to let this continue until then? I'm sorry this is such a long question but I'm very concerned about my husband's health, esp. with all he has gone through already. I have had to have 2 ablations(1 in'95 for SVT and 1 just recently last July for PVCs which originated from the left side of my heart) I am really hopeful he will not have to endure that kind of procedure. Thankyou for your time.

[Tired55]

Thanks for the response, in answer to your first question, yes, he is on Plavix; has been for well over a year after stent put in for blockage. Normally after a repair because there is a metal ring at the valve which can attract clots they put pts on coumadin but since my husband was already on Plavix his wonderful surgeon let him continue it. We don't yet know what kind of arrythmia he has developed, he will have a Holter Monitor for 24hrs starting tomorrow to see what it might be. I was just wondering if it was A-fib because I'm aware that it can be associated to heart valve issues. I've had 2 ablations(1 for SVT and 1 recently for PVCs originating from the left side of my heart) but fortunately had never had to take coumadin because not A-fib. Didn't explain repair, it was for a mitral valve tear.

[LindaTX]

My first question would be, "Is he on a blood-thinner?"  His heart may be irritated from the surgery.  I had an ablation for a-fib a year ago and am still on coumadin.  No side effects and I feel pretty safe from developing blood clots.

Your husband's Dr. hasn't discussed any of the potential effects of the arrhythmia?