Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia associated with significant morbidity, including angina, heart failure, and stroke. Medical therapy remains suboptimal, with significant side effects and toxicities, and a high recurrence rate. Catheter ablation or modification of the atrioventricular node with pacemaker implantation provides rate-control but exposes patients to the hazards associated with implantable devices and does nothing to reduce the risk for stroke. Pulmonary vein antrum isolation offers a nonpharmacologic means of restoring sinus rhythm, thereby eliminating the morbidity of atrial fibrillation and the need for antiarrhythmic drugs.
Callahan
Thomas D
TD
Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, Cleveland Clinic Cleveland, OH, USA.
Di Biase
Luigi
L
Horton
Rodney
R
Sanchez
Javier
J
Gallinghouse
Joseph G
JG
Natale
Andrea
A
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome