This review focuses on the important role played by the various types of remedial therapy in the prevention and treatment of perioperative cardiac arrhythmias. It discusses the new concepts of arrhythmogenesis and proarrhythmia; the long QT interval syndrome; newer, more selective class 3 antiarrhythmic drugs; cardiac rhythm management devices; drugs or devices used as prophylaxis for postoperative atrial arrhythmias; intravenous amiodarone for destabilizing ventricular arrhythmias; and preoperative potassium imbalance.