PMID: 8966505Oct 12, 1996Paper

Interventional treatment methods in atrial fibrillation

Schweizerische medizinische Wochenschrift
S Osswald

Abstract

Currently, interventional treatment modalities for atrial fibrillation chiefly comprise experimental techniques. Among the rate-control procedures, AV-nodal ablation in conjunction with permanent pacemaker implantation and transcatheter radiofrequency modulation of the AV-node are clinically accepted techniques. In contrast, the original corridor operation--which electrically isolates the left and right atrium from the sinus- and AV-node--has been changed over time and ultimately led to the development of the MAZE procedure. Among the procedures for maintenance of sinus rhythm, permanent atrial pacing and bi-atrial pacing may offer an effective--though still experimental--treatment modality in selected patients with vagally mediated or bradycardia-induced atrial fibrillation. Despite the fact that the MAZE procedure is highly effective in restoring sinus rhythm and associated with a reasonably low surgical mortality, the morbidity and complication rate of this procedure are high. Automated transvenous low-energy atrioversion may offer an interesting alternative in the future. However, there remain some significant limitations, such as the pain associated with low-energy shocks, the risk of ventricular fibrillation induction and...Continue Reading

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