Management of Atrial Fibrillation: Identifying and treating the causes.

Atrial fibrillation is relatively common, particularly among the elderly. Management requires identifying and treating the causes. Treatment aims at improving overall cardiac status. A number of patient factors determine whether treatment should focus on establishing sinus rhythm (electrically or with drugs) and maintaining it or on controlling ventricular rate. For most patients, anticoagulants are recommended to prevent pulmonary thromboembolism.