Atrial Fibrillation: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Improving Patient Outcomes, provides a current and comprehensive update on path physiology, epidemiology, management strategies of rate control, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches to rhythm control, risk stratification for stroke and bleeding, anticoagulant therapy, and left atrial occlusion devices. The contributions by experienced internists, cardiologists, electrophysiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, pharmacists, internists, nurse practitioners, and nurse educators provide a unique perspective. Case studies of paroxysmal, persistent, and permanent atrial provide clinical context incorporating recent evidence and best practices for the multidisciplinary approach to improving patient outcomes. “The physician is inundated with information, and needs all of this to be reduced and summarized in a readable form. This cannot be done simply by technical editing because it involves real expertise to pick the “jewels for the crown.” This has been accomplished so well by the authors who have contributed to this book. The result is a gem — a source of enlightenment for all the many clinicians who care for patients suffering from this ubiquitous arrhythmia. I read it from cover to cover in about three hours, and learned much which is new and useful to my practice. It is the best small book that I know dealing with this big subject.” -From the foreword by A. John Camm, MD

Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Edited by Etienne Aliot, MD, FESC, FACC, FHRS Chief of Cardiology, Hôpital Central, University of Nancy, France Michel Haïssaguerre, MD Chief of Electrophysiology, Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque, France Warren M. Jackman, MD Chief of Electrophysiology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, USA In this text, internationally recognized authors explore and explain the advances in basic and clinical electrophysiology that have had the greatest impact on catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Designed to assist in patient care, stimulate research projects, and continue the remarkable advances in catheter ablation of AF, the book covers: the fundamental concepts of AF, origin of signals, computer simulation, and updated reviews of ablation tools the present practical approaches to the ablation of specific targets in the fibrillating atria, including pulmonary veins, atrial neural network, fragmented electrograms, and linear lesions, as well as the strategies in paroxysmal or chronic AF or facing left atrial tachycardias the special challenge of heart failure patients, the impact of ablation on mortality, atrial mechanical function, and lessons from surgical AF ablation Richly illustrated by numerous high-quality images, Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation will help every member of the patient care team.

In spite of the large volume of associated research, the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in atrial fibrillation (AF) onset and recurrence remain uncertain. This may explain why the performances of thromboembolic and bleeding prediction scores in AF patients are limited. In the past few years, the concept of atrial cardiopathy has emerged as a promising lead to connect AF to stroke, heart failure, and inflammatory processes: indeed, all of the mechanisms associated with atrial remodeling and the development of atrial cardiopathy are also likely to promote the development of AF. This recent concept of atrial cardiopathy suggests that the real trigger of stroke may be an abnormal atrial substrate rather than atrial rhythm itself. In this setting, AF could be seen as a symptom of atrial cardiopathy rather than a risk factor of stroke. In the absence of validated clinical markers of atrial cardiopathy, the search for the mechanism of AF remains the cornerstone of cardioembolic stroke prevention for now. The aim of this Special Issue is to gather basic research as well as pathophysiological and epidemiological papers focused on the relationship between atrial substrates and atrial fibrillation onset, recurrence, and outcomes.

This extensively revised second edition provides a practically applicable guide for the management of cardiac arrhythmia. This subject has continued to expand rapidly, and it is therefore critical to understand the basic principles of arrhythmia mechanisms in order to assist with diagnosis and the selection of an appropriate treatment strategy. Comprehensively revised chapters cover a variety of aspects of cardiac electrophysiology in an easy-to-digest case-based format. For each case of arrhythmia, relevant illustrations, fluoroscopy images, ECGs and endocavity electrograms are used to describe the etiology, classification, clinical presentation, mechanisms, electrophysiology set up and relevant trouble-shooting procedures. New topics covered include the application of new antiarrhythmic drugs in tandem with ablation, techniques for the ablation of atrial fibrillation and electrophysiological assessments available for identifying instances of atrial tachycardia. Clinical Handbook of Cardiac Electrophysiology presents a comprehensive overview of cardiac electrophysiology, making it a valuable reference for practicing and trainee cardiac electrophysiologists, cardiologists, family practitioners, allied professionals and nurses.