Atrial Fibrillation, a Treatable Disease? (Developments in Cardiovascular Medicine, 139)

The attack of atrial fibrillation experienced by President Bush of the United States attracted more attention from the general public to atrial fibrillation than ever before. Also, there is a growing body of knowledge of the pathophysiologic mechanism, the pathology and epidemiology, and especially of the thrombo-embolic complications of this arrhythmia, which is responsible for a renewed interest of the clinician in this very common human arrhythmia. These new perspectives on atrial fibrillation were presented during a conference on `Atrial Fibrillation, a Treatable Disease?', organized on May 7, 1992, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Atrial fibrillation is not the prerogative of the cardiologist only. Many practitioners from other areas in health care, in particular general physicians, internists and neurologists, are faced with this arrhythmia and its untoward consequences. This book bridges the gap between theory, experiment and the clinic. Emphasis is therefore on the selection of the optimal approach, including pharmacotherapy, catheter ablation, pacemaker and surgical therapy, based on the current scientific insights in the mechanism and prevention of atrial fibrillation. Front Matter....Pages i-xix From Experiment to Therapeutic Innovation in Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter....Pages 1-22 Atrial Functional Anatomy....Pages 23-40 The Pathology of Drug Resistant Lone Atrial Fibrillation in Eleven Surgically Treated Patients....Pages 41-57 Termination of Atrial Fibrillation by Class IC Antiarrhythmic Drugs, a Paradox?....Pages 59-66 Characteristics of Patients with Chronic Atrial Fibrillation and the Prediction of Successful DC Electrical Cardioversion....Pages 67-86 Pharmacological Cardioversion of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter to Sinus Rhythm....Pages 87-103 Drugs after Cardioversion to Prevent Relapses of Chronic Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter....Pages 105-148 Episodic Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation....Pages 149-157 An AICD for Atrial Fibrillation?....Pages 159-165 The ’Corridor’ Operation as an Alternative in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation....Pages 167-181 Tachycardiomyopathy in Patients with Supraventricular Tachycardia....Pages 183-193 Sinus Rhythm, the Autonomic Nervous System, and Quality of Life....Pages 195-210 Atrial Tachyarrhythmias Following Coronary Bypass Surgery: Sympathetic Mechanisms....Pages 211-225 Management of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter Shortly after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery....Pages 227-236 Risk and Prevention of Embolism in Atrial Fibrillation....Pages 237-257 Value of Left Atrial Appendage Flow Velocities in Patients with Nonrheumatic Atrial Fibrillation and Systemic Embolism....Pages 259-269 Management of Atrial Fibrillation: From Palliation to Intervention....Pages 271-284 Back Matter....Pages 285-303