Health care utilization in a nurse practitioner-led atrial fibrillation clinic.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is emerging in prevalence with an increasingly aging population. The complex nature of the disease and its association with significant morbidity and mortality has resulted in a call for a new integrative, multidisciplinary approach to AF management.

Purpose: Determine if the use of a nurse practitioner (NP)-led AF clinic (NPAFC) can improve care for patients.

Evaluation of stroke incidence with duty-cycled multielectrode-phased radiofrequency ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation results of the VICTORY AF Study.

Introduction: The VICTORY AF Study was designed to evaluate the risk of the procedure and/or device-related strokes in patients with PersAF on warfarin undergoing ablation with a phased radiofrequency (RF) system.

Methods: The VICTORY AF trial was a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, investigational study. PersAF patients on vitamin K antagonism without major structural heart disease or history of stroke/transient ischemic attack undergoing phased RF ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) were included.

Paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation ablation outcomes with the pulmonary vein ablation catheter GOLD duty-cycled phased radiofrequency ablation catheter: quality of life and 12-month efficacy results from the GOLD Atrial Fibrillation Registry.

Aims: The GOLD AF Registry has been designed to prospectively assess the population, indications, and outcomes using second-generation phased radiofrequency (RF) ablation (pulmonary vein ablation catheter GOLD) in a global examination of standard-of-care use for the treatment of paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: GOLD AF (NCT02433613) is a prospective, observational, multi-centre registry designed to characterize efficacy and safety of phased RF ablation in patients with AF. The primary endpoint was freedom from AF recurrence at 12-month follow-up after a 90-day blanking period.

Long-Term Outcomes After Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Using the Second-Generation Cryoballoon: Final Results From STOP AF Post-Approval Study.

Objectives: STOP AF PAS (Sustained Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Post-Approval Study) is the first prospective, multicenter, 3-year study in North America to assess long-term safety and effectiveness of the cryoballoon for treatment of patients with drug-refractory symptomatic pAF.

Background: The STOP AF PAS was required by the U.S.

Cryoballoon Best Practices II: Practical guide to procedural monitoring and dosing during atrial fibrillation ablation from the perspective of experienced users.

Since the evaluation of the cryoballoon in the Sustained Treatment Of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation trial, more than 350,000 patients with atrial fibrillation have been treated. Several studies have reported improved outcomes using the second-generation cryoballoon, and recent publications have evaluated modifications, refinements, and improvements in procedural techniques. Here, peer-reviewed articles published since the first cryoballoon best practices review were summarized against the technical practices of physicians with a high level of experience with the cryoballoon (average ≥6 years of experience in ≥900 cases).