Atrial fibrillation ablation: pitfalls and potential solutions

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia having significant morbidity and
mortality. AF is becoming a global epidemic especially in the western world considering the ageing population and limited success rate for treatment. Thus, tools and techniques used for AF therapy may also be associated with substantial costs to the healthcare providers. It is therefore imperative that their effectiveness is understood to support their appropriate introduction to clinical practice. This thesis aims to describe key emerging AF ablation techniques, their applications, several complications that are associated with their use, and possible solutions. The researcher does not intend to make any specific recommendations on which techniques policymakers should rely.