CATHETER ABLATION FOR ATRIAL-FLUTTER AND FIBRILLATION - AN EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO MEDICAL THERAPY

Traditionally atrial arrhythmias have been treated pharmacologically, although in many patients such therapy is not effective or well tolera ted. For such patients, radiofrequency catheter ablation can be a reas onable alternative that offers a high initial success rate and low com plication rate. In this article, the au thors present an update on the use of ablation in atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation, including a review-of recent studies and a discussion of the benefits and downsi des of the procedure.