Interv Akut Kardiol. 2008;7(4):143-146

The role of catheter ablation in prevention of thromboembolic stroke

Martin Fiala

Kardiocentrum Nemocnice Podlesí, Třinec

Atrial fibrillaton (AF) is associated with increased risk of thromboembolic stroke. Clinical course of the ischemic stroke in patients with AF is worse compared to that in patients without AF. Anticoagulation represents the current basis of stroke prevention in patients with AF, although it includes many drawbacks and does not reduce the incidence of stroke to the level of population without AF. Permanent sinus rhythm offers the best prevention of thromboembolic stroke; however, effectiveness of the antiarrhythmic drugs to achieve this goal is low. Catheter ablation is much more potent in long-term elimination of AF compared to antiarrhythmic drugs; however, we are still lacking data from prospective randomized studies showing how this fact projects into the reduction of thromboembolic complications. Yet, results of studies encompassing large numbers of patients demonstrate that successful ablation is associated with significant reduction of thromboembolic complications, and that after successful ablation and discontinuation of warfarin, the incidence of tromboembolic events returns to the level of population without AF.

Keywords: atrial fibrillation, thromboembolic stroke, catheter ablation

Published: December 20, 2008  Show citation