Future prospects for implantable devices for atrial defibrillation.
The success of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) led to the concept of a device that would terminate atrial fibrillation (AF) using an implantable device. Implantable devices for AF are undergoing rapid evolution. Currently used devices combine pacing and cardioversion therapies to prevent and to treat AE Recent studies have shown that these devices are safe and can decrease the incidence of AF and improve quality of life significantly. Implantable devices for atrial defibrillation are likely to have an increasing role in the near future, particularly when they are used in combination with ICD and cardiac resynchronization therapy in which AF is both common and its termination is clinically beneficial.
Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 19/F, Block K, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
Hung-Fat
HF
Tse
Chu-Pak
CP
Lau
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans