title: Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Obese Patients.
abstract: Despite the increased burden of atrial fibrillation (AF), obese patients have similar, if not slightly improved, mortality, described as the "obesity paradox." Catheter ablation for AF in obese patients is a reasonable option, but patients should be screened for sleep apnea and counseled about the possibility of longer procedure times and repeat procedures to achieve similar success rates. Quality of life will likely improve after successful ablation. Although no statistically significant increases in procedural complications have occurred in obese subjects, patients should be counseled about the increased radiation dose and higher incidence of left atrial thrombus preablation.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes, Sheikh Zayed Tower - Room 7125, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Needleman
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Calkins