Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
-
J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Mar 2012
The use of dabigatran immediately after atrial fibrillation ablation.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation requires postprocedural anticoagulation to prevent thromboembolic events because of the ablation procedure itself or due to recurrent AF postprocedure. Dabigatran is a new anticoagulant and may be useful after AF ablation to prevent thromboembolic events. ⋯ Dabigatran is safe and well tolerated after AF ablation. It did not cause bleeding complications and there were no thromboembolic events. Dabigatran appears to be an alternative to warfarin after AF ablation.
-
J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Jan 2012
Effect of catheter ablation on progression of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
The objective was to determine the effect of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) on progression of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). ⋯ Compared to a historical control group of pharmacologically treated patients with paroxysmal AF, RFA appears to reduce the rate of progression of paroxysmal AF to persistent AF. Age, duration of AF, and diabetes are independent risk factors for progression to persistent AF after RFA.
-
J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Jan 2012
Percutaneous radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation prior to atrial septal defect closure.
Percutaneous Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation. Patients with an atrial septal defect (ASD) commonly have atrial fibrillation (AF) and closure of the ASD rarely controls the arrhythmia. ⋯ In 3 of the 4 patients AF was controlled after ablation without antiarrhythmic drug therapy and in the fourth patient AF was controlled with antiarrhythmic therapy after ASD closure. Based on these limited results it seems reasonable to consider RFA of medically refractory AF in patients prior to planned percutaneous ASD closure.