Society Guidelines Canadian Cardiovascular Society Atrial Fibrillation Guidelines 2010: Etiology and Initial Investigations

The initial evaluation of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) should include a comprehensive history, physical examination, and initial investigations. The initial evaluation of patients with AF has several important purposes, including the identification of the etiology of AF, particularly the identification of reversible causes of AF; the description of the pattern of AF; the assessment of the degree of symptomatic impairment due to AF; the assessment of the thromboembolic risk of the patient; and the identification of common comorbidities. Additional investigations may then be undertaken, with the decision guided by the initial evaluation. A comprehensive and systematic initial evaluation forms the foundation for a patient-specific plan for the management of AF. RESUME L’evaluation initiale des patients presentant une fibrillation auriculaire (FA) devrait comprendre un questionnaire detaille, un examen physique et un bilan sanguin de base. Cette premiere evaluation a pour but d’identifier l’etiologie (et particulierement les causes reversibles) de la FA, de decrire le type de FA (paroxystique, persistante ou permanente), d’evaluer le degre de symptomatologie du patient, d’identifier ses co-morbidites et d’evaluer son risque tromboembolique. L’indication d’investigations supplementaires et le plan de traitement specifique au patient dependent de cette evaluation initiale qui doit etre complete et systematique.