Author/Editor		Vokač, Damijan
Title		Nefarmakološki pristopi k zdravljenju atrijske fibrilacije
Translated title		Non-pharmacologic approaches in treatment of atrial fibrillation
Type		članek
Source		In: Kenda MF, Rakovec P, editors. Sodobna obravnava motenj srčnega ritma. 9. kardiološki dnevi; 2000 okt 20-21; Šmarješke toplice. Ljubljana: Združenje kardiologov Slovenije,
Publication year		2000
Volume		str. 141-7
Language		slo
Abstract		There are various nonpharmacological approaches available for treatment of atrial fibrillation which are usually used when standard pharmacological treatment becomes refractory. The common classical approach is atrioventricular junction ablation and permanent pacemaker implantation for patients with chronic atrial fibrillation refractory to drug therapy and noncontrolable ventricular response. The second common approach is a surgical maze procedure with a high success rate but an important complication rate, which makes it limited to a small number of patients. Permanent pacing, biatrial pacing and pacing from intraatrial septum is a promising method in reducing episodes of atrial fibrillation currently undergoing clinical investigation. The most important and promising nonpharmacologic treatment of atrial fibrillation is radiofrequency catheter ablation procedure. There are numerous investigational catheter ablation methods available from linear lesions mimicking surgical maze procedure to focal ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in pulmonary veins. Radiofrequecy ablation of pulmonary vein is the most promising method of ablation with a high success rate. There is a substantial evolution in understanding of mechanisms of atrial fibrillation as a development of present special catheter systems, which will further improve success rate of this method in the future, making it a primary therapeutic approach of treatment.
Descriptors		ATRIAL FIBRILLATION CATHETER ABLATION ELECTRIC STIMULATION THERAPY DEFIBRILLATORS, IMPLANTABLE CARDIAC PACING, ARTIFICIAL