Tachycardia: Difference between revisions

*** <b>Catheter ablation:</b> Medical therapy is not always sufficient to maintain sinus rhythm. In the last decade of 20th century it was discovered that atrial fibrillation is triggered from the pulmonary veins and that selective ablation of these trigger sites can reduce atrial fibrillation recurrence. As this technique evolved it is now common to ablate an area around the pulmonary veins to isolate them from the atrial tissue. The left atrium is approached through the inter-atrial septum and with the use of imaging and electrocardiographic signals a 3D map is made to navigate the atria. The pulmonary vein isolation can be performed with multiple energy sources. This is a difficult and long procedure, that depending on the technique used has (severe) complications. The success rate of the procedure varies on the experience of the operator (40-60%). Often the success rate can be increased by performing multiple procedures.  

*** <b>Surgical treatment:</b> Surgery is a more invasive, but more effective modality to treat atrial fibrillation. The classical cut and sew Maze procedure is a open chest procedure that requires extra-corporeal circulation. In this procedure the atrium is cut and sewn again to compartmentalize the atrium en therefore prevent the atrium maintaining atrial fibrillation. In recent years a less invasive procedure has developed to treat atrial fibrillation. This minimal invasive surgery is performed through thoractomy or thoracoscopy and is performed on a beating heart. A pulmonary vein isolation is performed with a clamp and if patients have persistent atrial fibrillation additional left atrial lessions are made on the atrium to compartmentalize the atrium. Finally the left atrial appendage is removed to reduce the occurrence of stroke. This procedure has a success rate of 68% after one year.

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! colspan="3" | CHA2DS₂VASc score to estimate stroke risk