Management of atrial fibrillation in patients with congenital heart defects

Abstract

Due to improved surgical technologies and post-operative care, long-term survival has improved in patients with congenital heart disease. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasingly observed in this aging population and is associated with morbidity and mortality; however, reports about the pathophysiology and the outcome of different treatment modalities of AF are still scarce in patients with congenital heart disease. In this review, the authors describe the epidemiology, pathophysiology and outcome of the different therapies of AF in this specific patient population.

Keywords: atrial fibrillation; cardiac surgery; congenital heart disease; mapping; pharmacological therapy; pulmonary veins isolation.