Cardiac Arrhythmias, Diagnosis, and Treatment - Atrial Fibrillation

Course overview

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia experienced by patients and encountered by physicians and other medical providers. It has been estimated to affect nearly 35 million people worldwide and, due to its consequences, accounts for great personal and economic costs. While an entire textbook could be written and dedicated solely to the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation and related arrhythmias, this monograph is intended to outline the epidemiology of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, including risk factors, comorbidities, and definitions; arrhythmia recognition by history, physical examination, electrocardiography, and other diagnostic testing; as well as current options in the treatment and management of this important condition, in particular, Vitamin K-dependent and direct oral anticoagulants, pharmacologic agents, direct current cardioversion and approaches to rhythm control using catheter ablation techniques.