Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in heart failure patients

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation is an underappreciated reversible cause of left ventricular systolic dysfunction despite adequate rate control. The restoration of sinus rhythm with catheter ablation results in an improvement in the ventricular function and is associated with lower rates of death and hospital admission for heart failure. These outcomes challenge the current treatment paradigm that rate control is the appropriate strategy in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure.