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CHAPTER SUMMARY AND CENTRAL ILLUSTRATION

Content Update

ADVENT trial: Pulsed field ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

The randomized, multicenter, single-blind, non-inferiority ADVENT trial compared catheter-based pulsed field ablation (PFA) to conventional thermal ablation (radiofrequency or cryoballoon) in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Read More

Content Update

CASTLE-HTx Trial: Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in End-Stage Heart Failure

Prior trials of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction excluded the end-stage heart failure population. Read More

Content Update

Assessing the Utility of Colchicine to Prevent Atrial Fibrillation After Thoracic Surgery

The COP-AF trial was a randomized, triple-blinded, multinational trial studying the effect of oral colchicine 0.5 mg twice daily compared to matching placebo in patients 55 years and older undergoing major non-cardiac thoracic surgery. Read More

Content Update

DANCAVAS: Five-Year Outcomes of the Danish Cardiovascular Screening Trial

The DANCAVAS (Danish Cardiovascular Screening) trial was designed to assess the impact of population-based cardiovascular health screening with respect to the risk of death. Read More

Content Update

Rivaroxaban in Rheumatic Heart Disease Associated Atrial Fibrillation: The INVICTUS trial

INVICTUS was a multinational, randomized, controlled trial comparing standard dose rixaroxaban with a dose-adjusted vitamin K antagonist in patients with atrial fibrillation and echocardiographically diagnosed rheumatic heart disease. Read More

Chapter Summary

This chapter discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and classification of atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter, as well as the clinical presentation, evaluation, and management of patients with these arrhythmias (see Fuster and Hurst’s Central Illustration). Patients may have a range of presentations from asymptomatic, with the arrhythmia detected only by electrocardiography or other monitoring, to highly symptomatic. Management approaches should be individualized to patient symptoms and comorbidities. Management of AF may require cardioversion acutely for symptomatic patients, followed by strategies to prevent recurrent AF and minimize sequelae such as stroke. An important consideration in the management of AF is lifestyle modification, because conditions such as sleep apnea, obesity, excessive alcohol intake, and lack of exercise may contribute to the development or maintenance of AF. Long-term management includes anticoagulation for the prevention of thromboembolism in patients deemed to be high risk. The other pillars of management of AF are rate control and rhythm control. Emerging data support early rhythm control by antiarrhythmic drugs or catheter ablation, especially in certain subpopulations such as those with concurrent heart failure. The management of atrial flutter is analogous in most respects to that of AF, although typical atrial flutter is curative in most cases with catheter ablation.

eFig 36-01 Chapter 36: Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter

INTRODUCTION

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in the world, affecting at least 33 million individuals.1 This is likely an underestimate because it is expected to double over the next 40 years ...

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