In this video, Dr. Matthew Reynolds, of the Harvard Clinical Research Institute, discussed his quality of life findings from use of catheter ablation and antiarrhythmic drugs for treatment of atrial fibrillation. He analyzed quality of life data that was collected as part of the previously-reported THERMOCOOL catheter trial in which catheter ablation was found to be significantly more effective at maintaining sinus rhythm than antiarrhythmic drugs.
In this trial, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients who had already failed one antiarrhythmic drug were randomized to either another antiarrhythmic drug or to catheter ablation. Dr. Reynolds looked at the quality of life data collected in that trial and found that there were dramatic and meaningful differences. Two factors emerged as being correlated with improved quality of life—having had an ablation and absence of recurrent symptomatic AF. The study indicated that after failing one antiarrhythmic drug you have a much better chance of improvement in symptoms and improved quality of life from having an ablation than from trying more drugs.
Watch the video at:
Dr. Matt Reynolds Discusses Quality of Life After Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation — Video (http://bit.ly/ht8i6E)