title: State of the art: catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Curative treatment of atrial fibrillation with catheter ablation is now a legitimate option for a large number of patients. In the last decade a tremendous amount has been discovered about this fascinating arrhythmia, yet there is still much that is understood. A number of different ablation strategies have been used including pulmonary vein isolation, targeting of fractionated electrograms, compartmentalising the atria with linear lesions and various combinations and modifications of these lesion sets. The optimal ablation strategy for both paroxysmal and long-lasting persistent atrial fibrillation is unknown. In this review the possible mechanisms underlying atrial fibrillation are examined along with the current catheter ablation techniques used in the treatment atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque and the Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux II, Bordeaux, France. mattwright007@btinternet.com
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haïssaguerre
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knecht
authors.forename: Seiichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nault
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lellouche
authors.forename: Mélèze
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hocini
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sacher
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jais
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome