Interviews

Afib can cause strokes and heart failure. With much treatment only providing a temporary alleviation, and open-heart surgery a major risk, Dr Richard Schilling, of St Barts Hospital, raises the possibility that catheter-ablation may bring hope for this common problem.

For any condition, a cure makes more sense than symptom management, yet atrial fibrillation is usually treated using drug therapy, which has a limited effect. With more cases of Afib reported each year, and catheter ablation offering a cure, the coming years could see a bold change of focus

Dr. Ernst is presently honorary senior lecturer, and lead for electrophysiology research at Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust (UK). Her clinical expertise has mostly focused on catheter ablation of complex arrhythmias with a special emphasis on atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardias.

Dr. Neuzil is director of the cardiac arrhythmia service and co-head of cardiology at the Hospital Na Homolce in Prague (Czech Republic), and previously underwent training at Charles University and Massachusetts General Hospital. His interests include cardiac electrophysiology including catheter ablation (mostly for AFib and VT), ICD and CRT device implantation and transvenous lead extractions.