NEWS YOU CAN USE: Botox May Help Prevent Post-Op A-Fib. “A-fib — an abnormal heart rhythm — is common after heart surgery, and it’s linked to stroke and heart failure. But two new studies suggest that botox injections during surgery temporarily freeze nerve bundles in the heart, preventing the dangerous complication. In one study, botox injected into the fat pads near each pulmonary vein reduced odds of atrial fibrillation by 64 percent. The effect lasted over three years, long after the botox itself dissipated, said lead researcher Dr. Jonathan Steinberg.”