Atrial Fibrillation

Electrocardiographically, atrial fibrillation is characterized by the presence of rapid, irregular, fibrillatory waves that vary in size, shape, and timing. This set of findings is usually associated with an irregular ventricular response, although regularization may occur in patients with complete heart block, an accelerated junctional or idioventricular rhythm, or a ventricular paced rhythm. In the past decade, we have gained a greater understanding of atrial fibrillation. Experimental studies have explored the mechanisms of the onset and maintenance of the arrhythmia; drugs have been tailored to specific cardiac ion channels; nonpharmacologic therapies have been introduced that are designed to control or . . .