Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF)

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia; despite many available guidelines the optimal management strategy remains elusive.

The most common presentations of acute AF are palpitations, breathlessness, syncope, dizziness, chest pain, transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and stroke. Patients may need urgent electrical cardioversion (ECV) or pharmacological cardioversion (PCV) and long term anticoagulation therapy.

This review aims to discuss some issues surrounding the early management of acute AF in the Acute Medical Unit.