Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

Overview

Journal Curr Cardiol Rep

Publisher Current Science

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2002 Aug 10

PMID 12169234

Citations 7

Authors

Eduardo B Saad

Nassir F Marrouche

Andrea Natale

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Associated with significant morbidity and mortality, atrial fibrillation is one of the most common cardiac rhythm disorders. Cure of this arrhythmia has been elusive over the years, despite development of different antiarrhythmic drugs and advances in the understanding of its pathophysiology. Initial experience with catheter ablation procedures based on the creation of linear lesions in both atria has been disappointing, but has led to the key observation that focal triggers localized in the pulmonary veins are responsible for initiation of atrial fibrillation, and thus are suitable targets for catheter ablation. With advances in technology and larger experience, it has become clear that electrical isolation of all four pulmonary veins from the left atrium provides the higher cure rates. However, the procedure is still operator dependent and is associated with a small but significant risk of pulmonary vein stenosis. Further simplification of the isolation techniques and refinement in the catheter design will allow more widespread use of this procedure and higher success rate.

Citing Articles

Accurate Detection Of Left Atrial Thrombus Prior To Atrial Fibrillation Ablation In Patients With Therapeutic Anticoagulation: Does Transesophageal Echocardiography Beat Conventional Wisdom?.

Lakkireddy D J Atr Fibrillation. 2017; 1(5):169.

PMID: 28496615 PMC: 5395033. DOI: 10.4022/jafib.169.

Anticoagulation During AF Ablation: The Balance between Thromboembolism and Bleeding.

Mears J, Asirvatham S J Atr Fibrillation. 2017; 1(5):153.

PMID: 28496609 PMC: 5395039. DOI: 10.4022/jafib.153.

Catheter Ablation of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: Have We Achieved Cure with Pulmonary Vein Isolation?.

Santangeli P, Lin D Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J. 2015; 11(2):71-5.

PMID: 26306122 PMC: 4547680. DOI: 10.14797/mdcj-11-2-71.

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: randomized controlled trials and registries, a look back and the view forward.

Santangeli P, Di Biase L, Pelargonio G, Dello Russo A, Casella M, Sanchez J J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2011; 31(1):69-80.

PMID: 21476087 DOI: 10.1007/s10840-011-9562-4.

Anatomic guidance for ablation: atrial flutter, fibrillation, and outflow tract ventricular tachycardia.

Sehar N, Mears J, Bisco S, Patel S, Lachman N, Asirvatham S Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J. 2010; 10(8):339-56.

PMID: 20811537 PMC: 2922872.

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