Management of Atrial Fibrillation: Is it Already Time to Update the Recent ACC/AHA/ESC Guidelines?

摘要

The current ACC/AHA/ESC were formulated in 1999-2000 and the executive summary was published in 2001 [1]. The full text of the guidelines is available on the websites of the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. It is the policy of these organizations to review the guidelines annually and make a decision to revise them or withdraw them from distribution. Almost three additional years of relevant research are now available since the original guidelines were developed. In that time some important new information has become available and it is anticipated that an effort to revise the guidelines will be mounted soon. In the discussion below, some of the areas in need of revision will be discussed. Several areas not specifically discussed could also be updated.One purpose of the guidelines that is under-appreciated is to highlight areas of deficiency in the knowledge base that is the foundation of the guidelines. In the ensuing 3 years since the guidelines were formulated, new areas of deficiency in the knowledge base have also appeared and some of these areas will also be highlighted.