An Approach to Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice with a prevalence that is increasing with age. During the past decade, catheter ablation of AF has rapidly evolved from a highly experimental unproved procedure, to its current status as a commonly performed procedure in many major hospitals throughout the world for symptomatic, drug refractory, paroxysmal, and persistent AF. With improved safety and advances in technique, catheter ablation has also been offered to the elderly. This article reviews the most current literature with respect to long-term clinical efficacy, risks, and benefits of catheter ablation of AF in the elderly.