title: Integrated approach to treatment-resistant atrial fibrillation: additional value of acupuncture.
abstract: A 62-year-old patient with chronic bronchitis had treatment-resistant atrial fibrillation. Electrical cardioversion was performed, but sinus rhythm (SR) lasted only for some minutes. Administration of amiodarone was withheld in favour of a course of acupuncture treatment in order to increase the success rate of a second attempt of electrical cardioversion. After two acupuncture treatments, spontaneous conversion to SR occurred. Relapses into atrial fibrillation in the following five winters, associated with attacks of bronchitis, also responded to acupuncture. The mechanisms of action of the acupuncture treatment and the value of this integrated approach to treatment are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture, Acupuncture Outpatient Clinic Heel de Mens, Heelsum, The Netherlands. info@humanbalance.nl
authors.forename: F A M
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Jonkman
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jonkman-Buidin
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004554:Electric Countershock; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: ACUPUNCTURE; CARDIOLOGY; CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY; COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE