Atrial fibrillation occurs when action potentials fire very rapidly within the pulmonary veins or atrium in a chaotic manner. The result is a very fast atrial rate — about 400 to 600 beats per minute.

This Journal feature begins with a case vignette highlighting a common clinical problem. Evidence supporting various strategies is then presented, followed by a review of formal guidelines, when they ...

Atrial fibrillation is a leading preventable cause of recurrent stroke for which early detection and treatment are critical. However, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is often asymptomatic and likely to ...