PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Richard Ang
AU  - Mark J Earley
TI  - The role of catheter ablation in the management of atrial fibrillation
AID  - 10.7861/clinmedicine.16-3-267
DP  - 2016 Jun 01
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - 267--271
VI  - 16
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/16/3/267.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/16/3/267.full
SO  - Clin Med2016 Jun 01; 16
AB  - Atrial fibrillation is driven by spontaneous electrical activation emerging from the pulmonary veins. Catheter ablation using either radiofrequency or cryothermal energy electrically isolates these veins from the left atrium, both reducing the burden of atrial fibrillation episodes and improving the patient’s symptoms. Catheter ablation is superior to antiarryhthmic drugs when patients are carefully selected. Underlying medical problems – including obesity, hypertension and obstructive sleep apnoea – should be optimally treated before considering ablation. Although this treatment has the potential to cure patients of their symptoms, they should be aware of the important associated procedural complications.