Description of the Disease
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid atrial rhythm caused by multiple chaotic waves of excitation in the atria.
Causes of the Disease
Atrial fibrillation is an arrhythmia with a 'trigger' mechanism, where the trigger is an ectopic focal point. These triggers are located in the muscular sleeves of the pulmonary vein ostia – the site where the pulmonary veins, carrying oxygen-rich blood from the lungs, enter the left atrium.
The causes of atrial fibrillation can include ischemic heart disease, heart defects, hypertension, hormonal disorders, substance abuse, alcohol consumption, and stress.
Symptoms of the Disease
The main symptoms of atrial fibrillation are weakness, malaise, palpitations, shortness of breath, reduced tolerance to physical exertion, heart palpitations, sometimes fainting, and chest pain.
Atrial fibrillation significantly reduces the quality of life of patients, who live in constant fear of an episode and also increases the risk of stroke several times – this is its main danger.
A timely diagnosis of atrial fibrillation helps prevent the development of complex diseases.
Diagnostics of the Disease
Atrial fibrillation is diagnosed based on clinical data, ECG during an episode, or data from 24-hour ECG monitoring.
Implantable electronic devices (pacemakers, ICDs, subcutaneous ECG recorders) play an important role in diagnostics, as they can automatically detect rhythm disturbances and provide important information to the physician.
Treatment of the Disease
Treatment of atrial fibrillation involves prescribing medications that prevent the onset of episodes and reduce the risk of stroke. It is also important to treat accompanying pathologies such as hypertension, heart failure, etc., as the mechanisms of atrial fibrillation progression are closely related to the mechanisms of the listed pathologies.
If medical antiarrhythmic therapy is ineffective, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) – radiofrequency isolation of the pulmonary vein ostia – may be performed.
The effectiveness of RFA is higher than that of drug therapy, and in many cases, it allows patients to get rid of arrhythmia episodes.
Learn more about radiofrequency ablationPrognosis of the Disease
The presence of atrial fibrillation, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization, development and progression of heart failure, stroke, and increased mortality.
It is important to start treatment of atrial fibrillation as early as possible and to conduct it comprehensively, including the treatment of accompanying pathologies.
Catheter ablation significantly improves the quality of life of patients with atrial fibrillation, allowing them to achieve long-term remission or significantly reduce the 'burden' of atrial fibrillation.