Who is a good candidate for atrial fibrillation ablation?
All patients considering atrial fibrillation ablation should have symptoms and/or impaired quality of life from their atrial fibrillation. The most ideal candidates for atrial fibrillation ablation have paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (starts and stops on its own) and have either failed or developed side-effects in response to at least one anti-arrhythmic medication. Even if atrial fibrillation is persistent rather than paroxysmal, it is encouraging if the patient is able to maintain some period of sinus rhythm after cardioversion with antiarrhythmic medications. The left and right atria should not be too large and the patient should not have too severe structural heart disease (such as thickening of the heart, weakening of the heart, advanced congestive heart failure, severe valvular disease). Finally, all patients must accept peri-procedural warfarin anticoagulation for at least one month before and 2-3 months after their procedure and they must understand and accept the risks and ben
