CRYOBALLOON PULMONARY VEIN CATHETER ABLATION OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Course overview

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (AF) IS THE MOST COMMON CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA ENCOUNTERED IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PREVALENCE OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION DRAMATICALLY INCREASES WITH ADVANCING AGE. THE INCREASING LIFE EXPECTANCY OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNITED STATES, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INCREASING FREQUENCY OF RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION SUCH AS HYPERTENSION AND OBESITY, LIKELY WILL LEAD TO A CONTINUED INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, ITS PRESENTATION, AND AVAILABLE TREATMENT OPTIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS ARRHYTHMIA.