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VIDEO: Andrea Natale, MD, highlights varied targets when using catheter ablation for AF
ORLANDO, Fla. — Andrea Natale, MD, FHRS, FACC, FESC, executive medical director at the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center, Austin, reviews clinical considerations on using catheter ablation as a treatment option in atrial fibrillation.
“The number of patients being considered for catheter ablation is increasing, the guidelines are including a larger number of patients as possible candidates, and the way we perform ablation in these patients has been changing over the last few years,” he said.
Offering background on the last two sets of guidelines, Natale reviews the expanded range of patients with AF who clinicians can now consider for the procedure.
He said the procedure is not the same for every patient, citing certain differences among patients with paroxysmal and nonparoxysmal AF. He also notes the lack of consensus on how to treat the latter group and highlights potential targets.
“In patients with paroxysmal AF, the field of electrophysiology and cardiology understand that pulmonary vein isolation is an important aspect in being effective and successful in this procedure,” he said. “This is certainly not the case in the nonparoxysmal group.”