Efficiency and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in elderly patients

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most frequent and significant rhythm disturbances. The effectiveness and expediency of using one of the most effective methods of treatment of this arrhythmia (radiofrequency ablation in elderly patients) remains a controversial and insufficiently studied issue. The article compares the results of the treatment of 63 patients of mature age (up to 75 years) and senile age (from 75 years). Patients underwent 78 operations of radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation and atypical atrial flutter, which was resistant to drug therapy. In the groups of patients of mature and senile age, there were no statistically significant differences in the effectiveness of treatment. In elderly people group, a higher incidence of complications was found mainly due to hydrothorax, but these complications did not increase the risk of death and were stopped during treatment. This allows to conclude that the senile age of patients should not be the reason for refusing to conduct radiofrequency catheter ablation.