BACKGROUND Drugs currently available for the acute treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation have significant limitations. We assessed the safety and effectiveness of intravenous magnesium sulfate versus diltiazem therapy in patients with prolonged episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. METHODS In a prospective randomized trial, 46 symptomatic patients presenting with paroxysmal atrial...

Patient Selection Criteria The use of transcatheter radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or cryoablation as a treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) may be eligible for coverage for the following indications which have failed to respond to adequate trials of antiarrhythmic medications:  Symptomatic paroxysmal or symptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation (AF); or  As an alternative to atrioventricul...

Background: Concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) might be useful in selecting patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) who will benefit the most from pulmonary vein isolation.

propafenone hci (p), is a relatively new class ic antiarrhythmic agent. it has been reported to be superior to conventional antiarrhythmics in the control of supraventricular, ventricular and wpw associated tachyarrhythmias. it has been also shown to be well tolerated. in our study protocol, which extends over 2~ years period , we used (p) in 87 patients for management of various types of cardi...

BACKGROUND Atrial remodeling has emerged as the structural basis for the maintenance and recurrence of atrial fibrillation. Lactate signaling cascade was recently linked to some cardiovascular disorders for its regulatory functions to myocardial structural remodeling. It was hypothesized that lactate signaling cascade was involved in the maintenance and recurrence of atrial fibrillation by regu...

Atrial fibrillation is the most common occurring clinical arrhythmia, often resulting in cerebral embolism and a deterioration of hemodynamics. According to the Framingham study, the incidence of atrial fibrillation is 0.5% in the fifties age group and rapidly increases to 8.8% in association with aging in people in their eighties .Many therapeutic methods have been proposed for atrial fibrilla...

A 56-year-old male with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation refractory to class IC and class III antiarrhythmic drugs was admitted to our hospital for radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. During preoperative examination situs inversus totalis was revealed. Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation was successfully performed with atrial fibrillation termination and elimination of all PV poten...

Catheter ablation is at the forefront of the management of a range of atrial arrhythmias. In this Series paper, we discuss the underlying mechanisms and the current role of catheter ablation for the three most common atrial arrhythmias encountered in clinical practice: focal atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter, and atrial fibrillation. The mechanisms of focal atrial tachycardia and atrial flutte...

BACKGROUND A minimally invasive surgery for treatment of atrial fibrillation was developed with bilateral pulmonary vein isolation, mapping, and ablation of the ganglionic plexi and excision of the left atrial appendage. A prospective multicenter registry was created to evaluate the outcomes. METHODS The procedure was performed through bilateral minithoracotomies with video assistance. It inc...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to define the incidence, mechanisms, and management, including catheter ablation, of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in a large series of patients after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). BACKGROUND Supraventricular arrhythmias are frequently encountered after OHT, but their characteristics in this population have not been well established. M...