title: Cost-effective strategies in the acute management of atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia likely to be encountered in clinical practice. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation can be complex and costly, especially when patients are hospitalized for acute management of this arrhythmia. In this review, we summarize current approaches to the acute management of atrial fibrillation with an emphasis on the most cost-effective approaches. We review acute methods of heart rate control and cardioversion, including pharmacologic and other minimally invasive strategies. We believe that the most cost-effective approaches may require the use of standardized clinical pathways. This may help to ensure that patients with acute atrial fibrillation receive the most effective and efficient care.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, NY 11794-8171, USA.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Dell'Orfano
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Naccarelli
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019091:Critical Pathways; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents