Atrial Fibrillation

Rulli Rosandi
Dr. Dadang Hendrawan, SpJP (K) FIHA*

SMF. ILMU PENYAKIT JANTUNG

FK.UNIV.BRAWUJAYA - RS. Dr. SAIFUL ANWAR
MALANG
2006
 Definition
• AF is a supraventricular tachyarrhythmia
characterized by uncoordinated atrial
activation with consequent deterioration of
mechanical function
• On the ECG, rapid oscillations or fibrillatory
waves that vary in amplitude, shape, and
timing, replace consistent P waves, and
there is an irregular ventricular response
that is rapid when conduction is intact
 Background
• Atrial fibrillation is the most common
sustained arrhythmia
• Affects 2 million Americans
• 6% over the age of 65 experience it
• Responsible for 15% strokes

– Benjamin E: Epidemiology of Atrial Fibrillation. In Falk RH, Podrida PJ, eds:Atrial Fibrillation:
Mechanisms and Management. 2nd Ed, Lippincott-Raven Press, New York 1997, pp.1-22.
 Atrial Fibrillation Demographics by Age
U.S. population Population with AF
x 1000 x 1000

30,000 Population with 500

atrial fibrillation
400
U.S. population
20,000
300

200
10,000

100

0 0
<5 5- 10- 15- 20- 25- 30- 35- 40- 45- 50- 55- 60- 65- 70- 75- 80- 85- 90- >95
9 14 19 24 29 34 39 44 49 54 59 64 69 74 79 84 89 94

Age, yr
Adapted from Feinberg WM. Arch Intern Med. 1995;155:469-473.
 6%
PSVT 18%
6%
PVCs Unspecified
4%
Atrial fibrillation Atrial
Flutter
accounts for 1/3 of
all patient 9%
34%
SSS
discharges Atrial
with arrhythmia as 8%
Fibrillation
principal diagnosis. Conduction
Disease

3% SCD

10% VT 2%VF

Data source: Baily D. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1992;19(3):41A.

 Classification
• After 2 or more episodes, AF is considered recurrent AF.
• If the arrhythmia terminates spontaneously, recurrent AF is
designated paroxysmal AF
• When sustained beyond 7 d, it is termed persistent AF.
• The category of persistent AF also includes cases of long-
standing AF (e.g., longer than 1 y), usually leading to
permanent AF
• Lone AF applies to individuals younger than 60 y without
clinical or echocardiographic evidence of cardiopulmonary
disease, including hypertension.

AHA/ACC/ESC Guidelines 2006

 Prognosis
• AF is associated with an increased long-term risk
of stroke and HF
• The mortality rate of patients with AF is about
double that of patients in normal sinus rhythm and
is linked to the severity of underlying heart
disease
• One of every 6 strokes occurs in a patient with AF.
 Pathophysiology
• The most frequent histopathological changes are
atrial fibrosis and loss of atrial muscle mass.
• Atrial fibrosis  Non homogeneity of conduction
• “Focal” triggering mechanism involving
automaticity
• Multiple reentrant wavelets
• These mechanisms are not mutually exclusive
and may coexist
 Presentation
• History
• Physical Examination
• ECG
 Etiologies and Factors Predisposing
Patients to AF1

ACC/AHA/ESC Practice Guidelines August JACC Vol. 48, No. 4, 2006 15, 2006 : e149–246
Etiologies and Factors Predisposing
Patients to AF2
 Minimum evaluation

ACC/AHA/ESC Practice Guidelines August JACC Vol. 48, No. 4, 2006 15, 2006 : e149–246
 Additional Testing

ACC/AHA/ESC Practice Guidelines August JACC Vol. 48, No. 4, 2006 15, 2006 : e149–246
 Management
• Rate Control
• Prevention of thromboembolism
• Restoration or maintenance sinus
rhythm

The initial and subsequent

management of symptomatic AF
may differ from one patient to another
 Rate control VS Rhythm control
• Two landmark studies published (AFFIRM) and
(RACE) trials, found that treating atrial fibrillation (AF)
with a rhythm control strategy offers no survival or
clinical advantages over simpler rate control therapy
using medications.
 Rate Control
• Rate control may be reasonable initial therapy in older
patients with persistent AF who have hypertension or heart
disease
• The definition of adequate rate control has been based
primarily on short-term hemodynamic benefits and not well
studied with respect to regularity or irregularity of the
ventricular response to AF, quality of life, symptoms,or
development of cardiomyopathy.
• Criteria for rate control vary with patient age but
usually
– Ventricular rates 60 - 80 beats/m at rest
– Between 90 and 115 beats/m during moderate
exercise
 Intravenous and Orally Administered
Pharmacological Agents for Heart Rate Control in
Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
 Intravenous and Orally Administered
Pharmacological Agents for Heart Rate Control in Patients
With Atrial Fibrillation2
 Prevention of thromboembolism
• In a retrospective, population based study in, Minnesota,
over 3 decades, The 15-y cumulative stroke rate in people
with lone AF was 1.3%.
• Echocardiography is valuable to define the origin of AF and
may add information useful in stratifying thromboembolic
risk.
• Impaired LV systolic function, thrombus, dense SEC or
reduced velocity of blood flow in the LAA, and complex
atheromatous plaque in the thoracic aorta on TEE have
been associated with thromboembolism, and oral
anticoagulation effectively lowers the risk of stroke in AF
patients with these features
AHA/ACC/ESC Guideline 2006
 CHADS2 Index
(stroke risk in pts with nonvalvular AF)
 Antithrombotic Therapy for Patients With AF

AHA/ACC/ESC Guideline 2006

 Combining anticoagulant and platelet-
inhibitor therapy ?
• Combinations of oral anticoagulants plus antiplatelet
agents have not generally shown reduced risks of
hemorrhage or augmented efficacy over adjusted-dose
anticoagulation alone.
• Combining aspirin with an oral anticoagulant may
accentuate intracranial hemorrhage, particularly in elderly
AF patients.
• For most patients with AF who have stable CAD, warfarin
anticoagulation alone (target INR 2.0 to 3.0) should
provide satisfactory antithrombotic prophylaxis against
both cerebral and myocardial ischemic events.
 Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation
• Cardioversion may be performed electively to restore sinus
rhythm in patients with persistent AF.
• The need for cardioversion may be immediate when the
arrhythmia is the main factor responsible for acute HF,
hypotension, or worsening of angina pectoris in a patient
with CAD.
• Nevertheless, cardioversion carries a risk of
thromboembolism
• Cardioversion may be achieved by means of drugs or
electrical shocks.
• There is no evidence that the risk of
thromboembolism or stroke differs between
pharmacological and electrical methods of
cardioversion.
• The recommendations for anticoagulation are
therefore the same for both methods
 Pharmacological cardioversion
• Pharmacological cardioversion seems most
effective when initiated within 7 d after the onset
of an episode of AF
• Spontaneous conversion is less frequent in
patients with AF of longer than 7-d duration, and
the efficacy of pharmacological cardioversion is
markedly reduced in these patients as well.
• The major risk is related to the toxicity of
antiarrhythmic drugs.
 Recommendations for Pharmacological Cardioversion of
Atrial Fibrillation Present of up to 7 d

ACC/AHA/ESC Practice Guidelines August JACC Vol. 48, No. 4, 2006 15, 2006 : e149–246
 Recommendations for Pharmacological Cardioversion of
Atrial Fibrillation Present for More Than 7 d

ACC/AHA/ESC Practice Guidelines August JACC Vol. 48, No. 4, 2006 15, 2006 : e149–246
 Direct-Current
Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation
• Delivery of an electrical shock synchronized with the
intrinsic activity of the heart
• High initial energy was significantly more effective than low
levels
• Initial energy of 200 J or greater is recommended
• The risks of direct-current cardioversion are mainly related
to thromboembolism and arrhythmias.
• the risk of thromboembolism was between 1% and 5%
• The risk was near the low end when anticoagulation was
given for 3 to 4 wk before and after conversion.

AHA/ACC/ESC Guideline 2006

• Anticoagulation is recommended for 3 wk prior to and 4 wk
after cardioversion for patients with AF of unknown duration
or with AF for longer than 48 h
• When acute AF produces hemodynamic instability in the
form of angina pectoris, MI, shock, or pulmonary edema,
immediate cardioversion should not be delayed to deliver
therapeutic anticoagulation, but intravenous unfractionated
heparin or subcutaneous injection of a low-molecular-
weight heparin should be initiated before cardioversion by
direct-current countershock or intravenous antiarrhythmic
medication.
 Maintenance sinus rhythm
• AF is a chronic disorder,and recurrence at some point is
likely in most patients.
• Factors that predispose to recurrent AF (advanced age,
female gender, HF, hypertension, LA enlargement, and LV
dysfunction)

Typical Doses of Drugs Used to Maintain Sinus Rhythm in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
 Antiarrhythmic drug therapy to maintain sinus rhythm in patients with
recurrent paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation.

AHA/ACC/ESC Guideline 2006

Nonpharmacological Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation

• Surgical Ablation
• Catheter Ablation
• Suppression of Atrial Fibrillation Through Pacing
• Internal Atrial Defibrillators