SURGERY FOR CARDIAC-ARRHYTHMIAS

The field of arrhythmia surgery has changed markedly over the past sev eral years. The increased effectiveness of catheter ablation for the t reatment of supraventricular tachycardias, the increasingly common use of surgical techniques for treating atrial fibrillation, and the cont inued refinement of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator technology have all altered decision-making regarding the treatment of patients w ith medically refractory symptomatic arrhythmias. The effects that the se changes have had on patient selection and therapeutic outcomes resu lted in the publication of a number of articles concerning arrhythmia surgery during the past year. Several of the most important changes in the treatment of patients with supraventricular and ventricular arrhy thmias are reviewed.