Radiofrequency ablation of the pulmonary veins: can it stop atrial fibrillation at its source?
Recent work from France indicates that many cases of atrial fibrillation arise from foci of rapidly firing cells, most of which are located not within the atria but within the pulmonary veins. Armed with this new knowledge, we are pursuing strategies of permanently preventing atrial fibrillation by destroying these foci using radiofrequency ablation.
Natale
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Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA. natalea@ccf.org
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery*