Atrial fibrillation in cardiac resynchronization therapy patients: should we ablate the atrioventricular node?

Abstract

Prevalence of persistent atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy remains high. Several factors, including suboptimal biventricular capture rates, compound the significant mortality and response rates in patients with atrial fibrillation and severe heart failure. Atrioventricular nodal ablation provides the best mean of rate control in this population. In this article, the authors evaluate a recently published trial addressing this issue in a prospective fashion and discuss the results and clinical applications.

Keywords::

• atrial fibrillation
• AV nodal ablation
• cardiac resynchronization

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.