Long-Term Survival after Ablation of the Atrioventricular Node and Implantation of a Permanent Pacemaker in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is associated with increased morbidity and mortality 1 – 5 and is an independent risk factor for stroke. 6 , 7 Although the association between atrial fibrillation and mortality has been debated, a recent report showed that atrial fibrillation was associated with a mortality rate that was higher by a factor of 1.5 to 1.9 than the rate expected in the general population, after adjustment for other cardiovascular conditions. 1 The optimal goal in treating atrial fibrillation is to restore and maintain sinus rhythm — often a formidable task. Despite therapy with antiarrhythmic drugs, studies have reported recurrence rates of 50 to 60 . . .