Atrial fibrillation: current guidelines - Therapy in medical practice and indication for electrophysiology

Atrial fibrillation is one of the essential causes of morbidity and mortality especially in patients of advanced age. In most of the patients it is of primary importance to clarify first of all the problem of anticoagulation. Fundamentally, it would be desirable to maintain or re-establish the sinus rhythm. Unfortunately, however, drugs are not very effective in maintaining the sinus rhythm. Catheter ablation of the atrial fibrillation is definitely more effective. This is however a complicated and risky procedure, so that it cannot be done on a large scale, the more so since essential questions are still unanswered, such as anticoagulation after catheter ablation in risk patients.