title: Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation to reduce stroke risk.
abstract: Stroke is the most devastating complication of atrial fibrillation (AF), and the latter increases the risk of stroke by almost fivefold. AF elimination by catheter ablation should lower the risk of thromboembolic complications. Several studies support this hypothesis, demonstrating rates of stroke in AF patients similar to non-AF populations after successful catheter ablation. Widespread discontinuation of oral anticoagulation after catheter ablation is currently not supported by scientific data but it may be a viable option for patients with a CHA2DS2VASc score of less than 2 and a well-documented stable sinus rhythm.
authors.affiliation: Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Wilhelm-Epstein Str. 4, 60431, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland. b.schmidt@ccb.de
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bordignon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fürnkranz
authors.forename: K R J
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Chun
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000401:mortality*; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome