2024 AF Symposium: Two New A-Fib Reports

The Benefits of Ablation Across the AF Spectrum: From Early Intervention to Late-Stage Heart Failure Parts I & II

The Friday morning session of the 2024 Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Symposium (February 3, 2024) was moderated by Dr. Nassir Marrouche of Tulane Medical Center. He recalled a phone call from Dr. Moussa Mansour who said, “If you look at the lectures, every one of them is [A-Fib] Guideline changing…I want to remind everyone this is the most important session of the whole meeting.” That was a noteworthy statement.

This session featured five speakers: Dr. Stephen Willems, Dr. Jason Andrade, Dr. Philipp Sommer, Dr. Douglas Packer and Dr. Francis Marchlinski.

The Role of Catheter Ablation in Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation

Dr. Stephan Willems

The first talk was by Dr. Stephan Willems of Asklepios Clinic St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany.

Dr. Willems began by pointing out that 30%-40% of A-Fib is asymptomatic. He asked the audience, “Is it still justified to withhold rhythm control, especially catheter ablation, in 30% to 40% of patients seeking our attention who are asymptomatic?

Or shouldn’t we go for rhythm control and catheter ablation, since we know that catheter ablation is something good with good results, good outcome? …Continue reading my report> go of Dr. Willems’ talk.

Impact of Ablation on AF Progression: Implications for Timing and Type of Ablation

Dr. Jason Andrade

The  second talk was by Dr. Jason Andrade of the University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.

Dr. Andrade pointed out that knowing how to stop A-Fib patients from getting worse is one of the major concerns of Electrophysiologists (EPs).

We know that AF is a chronic, progressive disease. If patients at first are asymptomatic, within a year 8% will develop clinically apparent AF. 7% of those patients will develop more intense forms of AF.

Left alone, they will progress to persistent and then permanent AF. Going into persistent AF, “they have a 20% risk of death and a 40% risk of stroke.” …Continue reading my report> go of Dr. Andrade’ talk.

More of my reports are coming next week To read earlier reports, see 2024 Symposium My Summary Reports

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