scholarly journals Rhythm and rate control of atrial fibrillation in the emergency department – A large community-based observational study

CJEM ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 834-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron J. Gilbert ◽  
Paul Angaran ◽  
Zana Mariano ◽  
Theresa Aves ◽  
Paul Dorian
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Chads2 Score ◽  
Control Factors ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Canadian City

AbstractObjectiveAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia presentation to the emergency department (ED) and frequently results in admission to the hospital. Although rarely life-threatening and not usually an emergent condition, AF places a large burden on our health-care system. The objective of this study was to describe the practices of ED physicians in the management of AF in a large urban Canadian city.MethodsFrom January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010, patients with a primary diagnosis of AF were identified across 10 EDs in Toronto, Canada (N=2,609). Fifty patients were selected at random from each hospital for a detailed chart review (n=500).ResultsTwo hundred thirty-two patients (46%) received rate control, and 129 (26%) received rhythm control with the remainder (28%) receiving neither therapy. Sixty-seven percent of patients were discharged home. Most patients (79%) were symptomatic on arrival; however, only a minority of these (31%) received rhythm control. Factors that were associated with rhythm control included younger age, duration of palpitations ≤ 48 hours, a lower CHADS2 score, and the absence of left ventricular dysfunction.ConclusionOur data suggest a wide range of practice amongst ED physicians treating patients presenting to the ED with a primary diagnosis of AF. A randomized trial is needed to better understand the optimal management strategy in this patient population and setting.

scholarly journals Use of rate control medication before cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation or flutter in the emergency department is associated with reduced success rates

CJEM ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (03) ◽  
pp. 169-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel E. Blecher ◽  
Ian G. Stiell ◽  
Brian H. Rowe ◽  
Eddy Lang ◽  
Robert J. Brison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Electrical Cardioversion ◽  
Ventricular Rate ◽  
Recent Onset ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Onset Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Control Medication

ABSTRACTObjective:It is believed that when patients present to the emergency department (ED) with recent-onset atrial fibrillation or flutter (RAFF), controlling the ventricular rate before cardioversion improves the success rate. We evaluated the influence of rate control medication and other variables on the success of cardioversion.Methods:This secondary analysis of a medical records review comprised 1,068 patients with RAFF who presented to eight Canadian EDs over 12 months. Univariate analysis was performed to find associations between predictors of conversion to sinus rhythm including use of rate control, rhythm control, and other variables. Predictive variables were incorporated into the multivariate model to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) associated with successful cardioversion.Results:A total of 634 patients underwent attempted cardioversion: 428 electrical, 354 chemical, and 148 both. Adjusted ORs for factors associated with successful electrical cardioversion were use of rate control medication, 0.39 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.21-0.74); rhythm control medication, 0.28 (95% CI 0.15-0.53); and CHADS2score > 0, 0.43 (95% CI 0.15-0.83). ORs for factors associated with successful chemical cardioversion were use of rate control medication, 1.29 (95% CI 0.82-2.03); female sex, 2.37 (95% CI 1.50-3.72); and use of procainamide, 2.32 (95% CI 1.43-3.74).Conclusion:We demonstrated reduced successful electrical cardioversion of RAFF when patients were pretreated with either rate or rhythm control medication. Although rate control medication was not associated with increased success of chemical cardioversion, use of procainamide was. Slowing the ventricular rate prior to cardioversion should be avoided.

scholarly journals Rhythm or rate control strategy in CRT recipients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation - preliminary results of the PilotCRAfT study

EP Europace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
JB Ciszewski ◽  
M Tajstra ◽  
E Gadula-Gacek ◽  
I Kowalik ◽  
A Maciag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Control Strategy ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Crt Response

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): National Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw Statutory Grant Background The presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) recipients is common and AF is a marker of poorer CRT response. The negative influence of AF on CRT efficacy is mediated mainly by the drop of the effectively captured biventricular paced beats percentage (BiVp%) which should exceed 95-98% to warrant good CRT response.  Sinus rhythm (SR) restoration may improve CRT efficacy which in turn may protect AF recurrence. However, there is lack of randomized studies comparing rhythm and rate control strategies in these patients. Purpose The purpose of the Pilot-CRAfT study (NCT01850277) was to compare the efficacy of rhythm vs rate control strategy in CRT patients with long-standing persistent or permanent atrial fibrillation. Methods The study included patients with CRT and permanent or persistent AF lasting for ≥6 months, resulting in BiVp% <95%, who were randomly assigned to rhythm or rate control strategy. The rhythm control strategy comprised of external electrical cardioversion (EEC). The rate control strategy included pharmacotherapy and atrioventricular node ablation (AVNA) as needed. Both of the study arms received amiodarone. The follow-up lasted 12 months. The primary endpoint was the 12-month BiVp%. The patients underwent ECHO, cardiopulmonary test, quality of live (QoL) and clinical outcomes assessment.   Results The study included 43 CRT patients (97,7% males) aged 68,4 (SD: ±8,3) years with mean BiVp% 82,4% ±9,7% at baseline. The mean duration of AF paroxysm was 25 ±19 months. The mean baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left atrium area and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) were: 30 ±8%, 33 ±7 cm2, 14 ±5 mL/(kg*min), respectively. The EEC was performed in 19 out of 22 patients assigned to the rhythm control arm. The immediate success rate of EEC was 58%. 42% of  the rhythm control arm patients remained in SR after 12 months. In the rate control group 1 person underwent AVNA and in 1 patient spontaneous SR resumption was observed. After 12 months there was significant BiVp% increase in both the rhythm and the rate control arms (98,1 ±2,3 vs 96,3 ±3,9%, respectively. The BiVp% differences between the groups were not significant (P = 0,093). However, in the per protocol analysis, the rhythm control group had greater LVEF after 12 months as opposed to the rate control arm (36,8% vs 29,9% respectively, P = 0,039). The LVEF raised significantly in the rhythm control group (ΔLVEF 5,0 (95%CI: 1,54; 8,46)). No significant differences between the groups in the VO2max, QoL, clinical and safety end-points were noticed. Conclusions Structured follow-up of CRT patients with long-standing persistent or permanent AF leads to significant BiVp% increase exceeding 95%. The rate control strategy did not improve CRT effectivness, irrespective of high BiVp%. However limited in the efficacy, the rhythm control strategy may improve CRT outcome in these patients, resulting in LVEF increase.

Optimizing Heart Rate and Controlling Symptoms in Atrial Fibrillation

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Pragnesh Parikh ◽  
◽  
KL Venkatachalam ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Stroke Risk ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Ventricular Rate ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
Novel Approaches

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia noted in clinical practice and its incidence and prevalence are on the rise. The single most important intervention is the evaluation and treatment of stroke risk. Once the risk for stroke has been minimized, controlling the ventricular rate and treating symptoms become relevant. In this review article, we emphasize the importance of confirming and treating the appropriate arrhythmia and correlating symptoms with rhythm changes. Furthermore, we evaluate some of the risk factors for AF that independently result in symptoms, underlining the need to treat these risk factors as part of symptom control. We then discuss existing and novel approaches to rate control in AF and briefly cover rhythm control methods.

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