What is rhythm control in atrial fibrillation?
Many patients with atrial fibrillation have substantial symptoms despite ventricular rate control and require restoration of sinus rhythm to improve their quality of life. Acute restoration (ie, cardioversion) and maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation are referred to as rhythm control.
What methods are there for rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation?
Methods and Results Rhythm control was defined as use of an antiarrhythmic medication, cardioversion, or AF ablation or surgery.
What are rhythm control drugs?
Some typical drugs that are used for rhythm control are flecainide (Tambocor®), propafenone (Rythmol®), quinidine (Various), sotalol (Betapace®), amiodarone (Cordarone®, Pacerone®),1 and dronedarone (Multaq®). These medications are not effective for all patients and some have major side effects.
When do you give rhythm control?
Rhythm control is preferred in highly symptomatic patients, those with paroxysmal AF and/or new-onset AF, in younger patients with relatively few medical comorbidities, and those with a history of congestive heart failure exacerbated by AF or AF-related cardiomyopathy.
Is rate or rhythm control better for AFIB?
Conclusion A rate control strategy is more important than a rhythm control strategy because it is effective for the majority of patients with atrial fibrillation, uses less toxic drugs, reduces the risk of harm from tachycardia mediated cardiomyopathy, and reminds the doctor and patient of the need for appropriate …
What’s the difference between rate and rhythm control?
Rate control, the first line of treatment for atrial fibrillation, controls the heart rate without changing its rhythm. It helps to bring your heart rate to a normal level. Rhythm control is used to maintain the heart’s rhythm with no arrhythmias.
Why is rate control a goal in AFIB?
The aims of heart rate control in atrial fibrillation are to minimise symptoms associated with excessive heart rates and to prevent tachycardia‐associated cardiomyopathy.
Does diltiazem control AFib?
The calcium channel blockers diltiazem (Cardizem) and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin) are effective for initial ventricular rate control in patients with atrial fibrillation. These agents are given intravenously in bolus doses until the ventricular rate becomes slower.
Is diltiazem or metoprolol better for AFib?
The key finding is that diltiazem was more effective than metoprolol in achieving rate control in ED patients with AFF at all time points within 30 min and did so with no increased incidence of adverse effects.