Treatment Options for Atrial Fibrillation

Objectives of Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

The overall focus of care for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is the prevention of complications and maintenance of functional ability and quality of life, which can be accomplished by achieving the following goals:

• Treatment of any underlying disorders that may be causing AF
• Restoration of the heart to normal sinus rhythm
• Control of ventricular rate
• Prevention of blood clot formation and stroke

The choice of therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation depends on the individual situation and is based on the degree of disability and symptoms as well as the person's ability to tolerate the various treatments and medications.

Some patients may have a persistently irregular heart rhythm despite medications and other interventions aimed at converting the heart into a normal rhythm. In these cases, it is important to control the heart rate and to minimize the risk of complications such as stroke.

In general, a variety of options are available for the treatment of atrial fibrillation ranging from relatively benign lifestyle modifications at one end of the spectrum (e.g., smoking cessation, reduction of alcohol or caffeine consumption), to invasive open heart surgery (e.g., the Maze procedure) at the other end of the spectrum. The choice of treatment depends upon numerous factors including the underlying cause of the atrial fibrillation, the severity of the symptoms, and the patient's age and overall health status.