ABSTRACT
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly encountered clinical arrhythmia, with an age-dependent prevalence of 0.5 to 8% (1). Although the arrhythmia is initially often present in a paroxysmal form, it progresses to persistent or permanent AF in most patients (2). According to this definition, persistent AF is continually present but may still be converted by medical treatment, whereas permanent AF cannot be terminated, and only ratecontrol with anticoagulation remains as a therapeutic option.
