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Atrial fibrillation (AF or A-fib) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), and involves the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart. Its name comes from the fibrillating (i.e., quivering) of the heart muscles of the atria, instead of a coordinated contraction. It can often be identified by taking a pulse and observing that the heartbeats do not occur at regular intervals. However, a stronger indicator of AF is the absence of P waves on an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which are normally present when there is a coordinated atrial contraction at the beginning of each heart beat. Risk increases with age, with 8% of people over 80 having AF.

In AF, the normal electrical impulses that are generated by the sinoatrial node are overwhelmed by disorganized electrical impulses that originate in the atria and pulmonary veins, leading to conduction of irregular impulses to the ventricles that generate the heartbeat. The result is an irregular heartbeat, which may occur in episodes lasting from minutes to weeks, or it could occur all the time for years. The natural tendency of AF is to become a chronic condition. Chronic AF leads to a small increase in the risk of death.

Atrial fibrillation is often asymptomatic and is not in itself generally life-threatening, but it may result in palpitations, fainting, chest pain, or congestive heart failure. People with AF usually have a significantly increased risk of stroke (up to 7 times that of the general population). Stroke risk increases during AF because blood may pool and form clots in the poorly contracting atria and especially in the left atrial appendage (LAA). The level of increased risk of stroke depends on the number of additional risk factors. If a person with AF has none, the risk of stroke is similar to that of the general population. However, many people with AF do have additional risk factors and AF is a leading cause of stroke.Atrial fibrillation may be treated with medications which either slow the heart rate or revert the heart rhythm back to normal. Synchronized electrical cardioversion may also be used to convert AF to a normal heart rhythm. Surgical and catheter-based therapies may also be used to prevent recurrence of AF in certain individuals. People with AF are often given anticoagulants such as warfarin to protect them from stroke.

Atrial fibrillation Video

Atrial Fibrillation - What Is Atrial Fibrillation Video - About.com
2.13 min. | 4.82 user rating		 Getting cardioverted after an episode of Atrial Fibrillation - I was put under using propofol (milk of amnesia) the same drug Michael Jackson was administer before his death.
2.15 min. | 4.61 user rating		 Minimally invasive surgery for atrial fibrillation ("mini-maze") is a procedure intended to cure atrial fibrillation. During the procedure, attempts are made to electrically isolate the pulmonary veins from the left atrium using a bipolar radiofrequency clamp that is applied to the atrium, then removed. Some of the intrinsic autonomic activity of the left atrium, which is thought to initate and maintain atrial fibrillation in some patients, is also eliminated during this procedure. www.minimaze.org
5.30 min. | 4.7 user rating		 Atrial fibrillation is one of the most commonly encountered cardiac arrhythmias. More on www.mediscuss.org
0.17 min. | 3.0 user rating		 Atrial Fibrillation Radiofrequency Ablation will be the focus of a live webcast, hosted by Hartford Hospital from 6 to 7 pm EDT (22:00 UTC). The most common form of arrhythmia, ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (A-fib) affects some 2 million Americans each year. This interruption in the regular heartbeat impairs the heart's ability to perform effectively, and can result in stroke, congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy. Origins of the disorder are not clearly understood, but chances of developing it increase with age.When medications and other conventional interventions fail to restore a normal heartbeat, radiofrequency ablation is a leading option. The electrophysiology experts at Hartford Hospital are...
1.88 min. | 4.2 user rating
Join Dr. Jose Nazari in a live online chat on atrial fibrillation on Feburary 9th at 10 am. To learn more and sign up, visit northshore.org/chat NorthShore University HealthSystem Cardiac Electrophysiologists Wes Fisher, MD, Jose Nazari, MD and Alex Ro, MD discuss atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that starts in the upper parts (atria) of the heart.
9.00 min. | 5.0 user rating		 www.richacls.com A narrated and animated review of Supraventricular Tachycardia, Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter. To learn more about ECG Rhythms and ACLS class preparation visit our website! www.richacls.com
3.70 min. | 5.0 user rating		 www.lifelinescreening.com During Atrial Fibrillation, the heart's upper chambers (the atria) beat irregularly or quiver, instead of beating effectively. As a result, the blood isn't pumped completely out of the atria and may pool. Pooled blood is likely to form a clot. If the clot dislodges from the atria, it can travel to the brain (or other parts of the body) and block blood flow, causing a stroke. Life Line Screening provides preventive health screening services for stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, heart disease & osteoporosis. Call 1-877-237-1336 or visit our website at http for screening signup.
0.27 min. | 4.16 user rating		 Atrial Fibrillation with Rapid Ventricular Response
0.98 min. | 4.83 user rating		 www.fletcherallen.org - Peter Spector, MD, a nationally renowned expert in heart rhythm disorders, discusses atrial fibrillation -- an irregular heart beat -- and a procedure used to correct this condition known as cardiac ablation. Fletcher Allen, a university medical center located in Burlington, Vermont, is allied with the University of Vermont. Contact Fletcher Allen Cardiology at (802) 847-4600. As a university hospital, Fletcher Allen's team of more than 20 cardiologists and heart surgeons are providing nationally recognized treatment that is virtually unsurpassed -- from prevention to cardiac catheterization, from heart rhythm disorders to bypass surgery.
9.43 min. | 5.0 user rating

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Wine, Cheese and Atrial Fibrillation - TribLocal Tweet this news
TribLocal--Speaking to a capacity crowd at McCormick & Schmick's in Skokie, Alan Zunamon MD a cardiologist with Cardiovascular Associates of Glenbrook and Evanston, provided an overview of -atrial fibrillation-. ... - Date : Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:51:28 GMT+00:00
How best to treat and control atrial fibrillation - Nevada Appeal Tweet this news
Nevada Appeal--That's the dilemma facing more than 2.2 million Americans who have -atrial fibrillation-, the most common heart arrhythmia and one of the most vexing to control. While treatments ranging from medication to surgery are proliferating � a - Date : Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:02:25 GMT+00:00
Stroke drug may cause liver damage, warns EMA - Irish Times Tweet this news
Irish Times--DOCTORS HAVE been asked to closely monitor patients taking a drug used to control -atrial fibrillation-, a rhythm disturbance in the heart, following reports of liver damage possibly associated with the medication. Dronedarone, which is marke - Date : Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:11:13 GMT+00:00
CardioFocus Finds $13.6M for Atrial Fibrillation Treatment - Xconomy Tweet this news
Xconomy--Investors have been getting behind a Marlborough, MA-based firm that is working on a potentially better way to treat an irregular heart rhythm known as -atrial fibrillation-. CardioFocus has raised $13.6 million in equity financing, according to - Date : Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:16:18 GMT+00:00
NewCardio Study Shows CardioBip Detects Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation Earlier ... - PR-USA.net (press release) Tweet this news
PR-USA.net (press release)--There are more than 30 million patients - in the US and throughout the world - who have -atrial fibrillation- or other cardiac arrhythmias, and could benefit from using the CardioBip solution. We look forward to sharing the dat - Date : Sun, 27 Feb 2011 14:45:20 GMT+00:00
Dynamic Field of Cardiac Electrophysiology Improving Cardiac Outcomes - TribLocal Tweet this news
TribLocal--The whole area of cardiac electrophysiology is continuing to evolve with numerous active research efforts and clinical trials addressing treatment for -atrial fibrillation-, a condition where the two smaller chambers of the heart (atria) beat i - Date : Fri, 25 Feb 2011 01:48:17 GMT+00:00
StopAfib.org CEO Mellanie True Hills is Invited Speaker at Fourth Annual ... - StopAfib.org Tweet this news
StopAfib.org--February 24, 2011 � Mellanie True Hills, founder and CEO of StopAfib.org, an -atrial fibrillation- patient advocacy organization, is an invited speaker for the upcoming Fourth Annual Western -Atrial Fibrillation- Symposium. Taking place Febr - Date : Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:01:02 GMT+00:00
Pharmacy OneSource Announces Webinar on Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation - Newswire Today (press release) Tweet this news
Newswire Today (press release)--D., CACP, FASHP, FCCP, on "Stroke Prevention in -Atrial Fibrillation-." In this webinar, Wittkowsky will review epidemiology, pathophysiology and risk factors for stroke in patients with -atrial fibrillati - Date : Fri, 25 Feb 2011 01:58:52 GMT+00:00
NewCardio Study Shows CardioBip Detects Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation Earlier ... - PR Newswire (press release) Tweet this news
PR Newswire (press release)--There are more than 30 million patients - in the US and throughout the world - who have -atrial fibrillation- or other cardiac arrhythmias, and could benefit from using the CardioBip solution. We look forward to sharing the da - Date : Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:01:48 GMT+00:00
Learn More About Atrial Fibrillation at this FREE Presentation - PRLog.Org (press release) Tweet this news
PRLog.Org (press release)--PRLog (Press Release) - Feb 18, 2011 - BENNINGTON � Join distinguished cardiology experts from both Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) and St. Peter's Hospital for a FREE presentation, “-Atrial Fibrillation-: What - Date : Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:27:46 GMT+00:00

Classification system
AF Category Defining Characteristics
First detected only one diagnosed episode
Paroxysmal recurrent episodes that self-terminate in less than 7 days.
Persistent recurrent episodes that last more than 7 days
Permanent an ongoing long-term episode

Electrophysiology : Exercise stress testing
Sinus rhythm Atrial fibrillation

Cardiovascular disease: heart disease * Circulatory system pathology (I00-I52, 390-429)

Ischaemic
CD/CHDCAD * Coronary thrombosis * Coronary vasospasm * Coronary artery aneurysm * Coronary artery dissection * Myocardial Bridge
Active ischemiaAngina pectoris (Prinzmetal's angina, Stable angina) * Acute coronary (Unstable angina, Myocardial infarction / heart attack)
Sequelaehours (Myocardial stunning, Hibernating myocardium) * days (Myocardial rupture) * weeks (Aneurysm of heart/Ventricular aneurysm, Dressler's syndrome)
Layers

Cardiovascular disease: heart disease * Circulatory system pathology (I00-I52, 390-429)

Ischaemic
CD/CHDCAD * Coronary thrombosis * Coronary vasospasm * Coronary artery aneurysm * Coronary artery dissection * Myocardial Bridge
Active ischemiaAngina pectoris (Prinzmetal's angina, Stable angina) * Acute coronary (Unstable angina, Myocardial infarction / heart attack)
Sequelaehours (Myocardial stunning, Hibernating myocardium) * days (Myocardial rupture) * weeks (Aneurysm of heart/Ventricular aneurysm, Dressler's syndrome)
Layers
Pericardium
Pericarditis (Acute, Chronic/Constrictive) * Pericardial effusion (Hemopericardium, Cardiac tamponade)
Ischaemic
CD/CHDCAD * Coronary thrombosis * Coronary vasospasm * Coronary artery aneurysm * Coronary artery dissection * Myocardial Bridge
Active ischemiaAngina pectoris (Prinzmetal's angina, Stable angina) * Acute coronary (Unstable angina, Myocardial infarction / heart attack)
Sequelaehours (Myocardial stunning, Hibernating myocardium) * days (Myocardial rupture) * weeks (Aneurysm of heart/Ventricular aneurysm, Dressler's syndrome)
Layers
subgroup |groupstyle=background-color: MistyRose |Pericardium |Pericarditis (Acute, Chronic/Constrictive) * Pericardial effusion (Hemopericardium, Cardiac tamponade) |Myocardium |Myocarditis (Chagas disease) Cardiomyopathy: Dilated (Alcoholic) * Hypertrophic * Restrictive (Loeffler endocarditis, Cardiac amyloidosis, Endocardial fibroelastosis) Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia |Endocardium/
valves |

Cardiovascular disease: heart disease * Circulatory system pathology (I00-I52, 390-429)

Ischaemic
CD/CHDCAD * Coronary thrombosis * Coronary vasospasm * Coronary artery aneurysm * Coronary artery dissection * Myocardial Bridge
Active ischemiaAngina pectoris (Prinzmetal's angina, Stable angina) * Acute coronary (Unstable angina, Myocardial infarction / heart attack)
Sequelaehours (Myocardial stunning, Hibernating myocardium) * days (Myocardial rupture) * weeks (Aneurysm of heart/Ventricular aneurysm, Dressler's syndrome)
Layers
Pericardium
Pericarditis (Acute, Chronic/Constrictive) * Pericardial effusion (Hemopericardium, Cardiac tamponade)
Ischaemic
CD/CHDCAD * Coronary thrombosis * Coronary vasospasm * Coronary artery aneurysm * Coronary artery dissection * Myocardial Bridge
Active ischemiaAngina pectoris (Prinzmetal's angina, Stable angina) * Acute coronary (Unstable angina, Myocardial infarction / heart attack)
Sequelaehours (Myocardial stunning, Hibernating myocardium) * days (Myocardial rupture) * weeks (Aneurysm of heart/Ventricular aneurysm, Dressler's syndrome)
Layers
subgroup |groupstyle=background-color: MistyRose |Pericardium |Pericarditis (Acute, Chronic/Constrictive) * Pericardial effusion (Hemopericardium, Cardiac tamponade) |Myocardium |Myocarditis (Chagas disease) Cardiomyopathy: Dilated (Alcoholic) * Hypertrophic * Restrictive (Loeffler endocarditis, Cardiac amyloidosis, Endocardial fibroelastosis) Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia |Endocardium/
valves |
Pericardium
Pericarditis (Acute, Chronic/Constrictive) * Pericardial effusion (Hemopericardium, Cardiac tamponade)
Ischaemic
CD/CHDCAD * Coronary thrombosis * Coronary vasospasm * Coronary artery aneurysm * Coronary artery dissection * Myocardial Bridge
Active ischemiaAngina pectoris (Prinzmetal's angina, Stable angina) * Acute coronary (Unstable angina, Myocardial infarction / heart attack)
Sequelaehours (Myocardial stunning, Hibernating myocardium) * days (Myocardial rupture) * weeks (Aneurysm of heart/Ventricular aneurysm, Dressler's syndrome)
Layers
subgroup |groupstyle=background-color: MistyRose |Pericardium |Pericarditis (Acute, Chronic/Constrictive) * Pericardial effusion (Hemopericardium, Cardiac tamponade) |Myocardium |Myocarditis (Chagas disease) Cardiomyopathy: Dilated (Alcoholic) * Hypertrophic * Restrictive (Loeffler endocarditis, Cardiac amyloidosis, Endocardial fibroelastosis) Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia |Endocardium/
valves |
Pre-excitation syndrome
Wolff-Parkinson-White * Lown-Ganong-Levine
Flutter/fibrillation
Atrial flutter * Ventricular flutter * Atrial fibrillation (Familial) * Ventricular fibrillation
Pacemaker
Wandering pacemaker * Ectopic pacemaker/Ectopic beat * Parasystole * Multifocal atrial tachycardia * Pacemaker syndrome
Long QT syndrome
Romano-Ward syndrome * Andersen-Tawil syndrome * Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome
Cardiac arrest
Sudden cardiac death * Asystole * Pulseless electrical activity * Sinoatrial arrest
Other/ungrouped
hexaxial reference system (Right axis deviation, Left axis deviation) * QT (Short QT syndrome) * T (T wave alternans) * ST (Osborn wave, ST elevation, ST depression)



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