Abstract
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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 163-178 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Cardiology clinics |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2009 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Antiarrhythmic drugs
- Atrial fibrillation
- Atrioventricular node ablation
- Catheter ablation
- Pulmonary veins
- Rate control
- Rhythm control
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine