Targets and endpoints in ablation therapy for atrial fibrillation in the light of pathophysiological mechanisms.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), an important public health problem is a complex and multifactorial arrhythmia. Non-pharmacological treatment for symptomatic patients is of increasing importance. The different catheter ablation techniques in AF treatment developed during recent years, all based on different pathophysiological insights, are discussed. The non-standardized use of different follow-up methods after ablation make interpretation and comparison of results difficult.