Provides a practical overview of managing atrial fibrillation, emphasizing the importance of cardioversion, appropriate rate control, and anticoagulation to prevent embolic stroke.
May inform AF management in practice; leaves open integration of emerging therapies pending new trials.
Management of atrial fibrillation includes assessing the need for rate control, identifying underlying conditions, and performing cardioversion or instituting long-term medical therapy. Elective cardioversion should be strongly considered for every patient, chiefly to decrease the incidence of embolic stroke. Patients who remain in chronic atrial fibrillation require attention to rate control; digoxin (Lanoxin) alone may be a poor choice if they are vigorous and active. Many subgroups of patients benefit from long-term anticoagulation.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Michael Garrett (1990) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: