Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Heart Failure: Out of Rhythm and Out of Breath

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cause of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Randomized trials have demonstrated the superiority of catheter ablation over drug therapy for rhythm control in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. In light of these data, the recent Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation upgraded the recommendation for catheter ablation to a Class I indication for this patient population. With the emergence of new evidence, the guideline emphasizes the importance of early rhythm control in reducing the burden of atrial fibrillation and adverse ventricular remodeling in patients with heart failure. Furthermore, atrioventricular nodal ablation with the implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device may be considered for patients with refractory rapid ventricular response in whom rhythm control has failed. This session will help identify heart failure patients with atrial fibrillation who are most likely to benefit from catheter ablation and will explore management strategies when ablation fails.

Agenda

• Moderator - Onyedika Ilonze, MD
• Moderator - Nadia Fida, MD
• Zap It or Drug It? Options for Rhythm Control in Heart Failure - TBD
• Taking out the Middleman: Role of AV Nodal Ablation in Refractory Atrial Fibrillation - TBD
• Panel Discussion