REVIEW

Present treatment options for atrial fibrillation

S K S Lairikyengbam¹, M H Anderson², A G Davies¹

¹ Bronglais General Hospital, Aberystwyth
² Regional Cardiac Centre, Morriston Hospital, Swansea

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr S K S Lairikyengbam, Department of Medicine, Bronglais General Hospital, Aberystwyth SY23 1ER, UK;
slairik{at}hotmail.com

Atrial fibrillation is the commonest sustained cardiac arrhythmia. It accounts for >35% of all hospital admissions for cardiac arrhythmias in the United States. The presence of atrial fibrillation increases the mortality of a population by up to twofold. The risk of stroke increases from 1.5% in patients with atrial fibrillation from 50–59 years of age to up to 23.5% for such patients aged 80–89 years. Although the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation is usually straightforward, effective treatment is not. This article will discuss how rhythm control of atrial fibrillation can best be achieved, the controversy over the rhythm versus rate control, the maintenance of sinus rhythm with antiarrhythmic drugs after cardioversion, and prevention of thromboembolism. Finally, the recent advances in various non-pharmacological approaches for the treatment of atrial fibrillation will be highlighted.

Keywords: atrial fibrillation; cardioversion; stroke

Abbreviations: DCC, direct current cardioversion; ECG, electrocardiogram; TOE, transoesophageal echocardiography

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Boos, C J (2003). Present treatment options for atrial fibrillation. Postgrad. Med. J. 79: 604-604 [Full Text]