title: Nonpharmacologic treatment of atrial fibrillation: current and evolving strategies.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia requiring treatment. Limitations of medical treatment have prompted development of nonpharmacologic therapies for this arrhythmia. These are aimed at ventricular rate control during atrial fibrillation, termination of the arrhythmia, and/or prevention of recurrences. Ventricular rate control can be achieved with transcatheter ablation or modification of the atrioventricular node. The MAZE operation is effective in preventing arrhythmia recurrence, but because it requires cardiac surgery, its appeal is limited. Development of the technique for direct transcatheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is eagerly anticipated and may represent the standard curative treatment of the future. In appropriately selected patients, implantable device therapy may play an important role in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iskos
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Fahy
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Lurie
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Adkisson
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Benditt
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000601:surgery; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005544:Forecasting; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D016276:Ventricular Function
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents