Atrial Fibrillation Ablation, 2011 Update – The State of the Art based on the VeniceChart International Consensus Document

Andrea Natale M.D., F.A.C.C., F.H.R.S., F.E.S.C., Executive Medical Director, Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center. A committed academician, Dr. Natale's faculty positions at a variety of prestigious universities include Duke University and Stanford University. He has been an invited lecturer at more than 200 symposiums and conferences around the world, and is the author or co-author of hundreds of published articles on pacing and electrophysiology. In addition to serving on the editorial boards of numerous medical journals, he is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Atrial Fibrillation. A forefront researche. Dr. Natale focuses on innovative advances in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. His goal is to benefit patient care through technologies such as robotic devices and specialized ablation catheters.

Preface, vii List of contributors, ix VeniceChart task force composition, xxxiii List of abbreviations, xxxvii 1 Anatomy of structures relevant to atrial fibrillation ablation, 1 2 Pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation, 20 3 Techniques and technologies for atrial fibrillation catheter ablation, 35 4 Endpoints of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, 61 5 Patient management pre-, during-, and postablation, 70 6 Periprocedural and long-term anticoagulation, 77 7 Periprocedural and late complications, 85 8 Short- and long-term efficacy of catheter ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation, 118 9 Indications to atrial fibrillation ablation and cost-effectiveness, 127 10 Clinical trials on atrial fibrillation/future perspectives, 137 11 Surgical approach/ablation, 161 12 Hospital equipment and facilities, personnel, training requirements, and competences, 176 Index, 184