Policy On Disclosure

STATEMENT OF NEED

The Planning Committee has determined that there is a strong need for this conference based on the clinical and public health significance of atrial fibrillation as the most common cardiac arrhythmia and a growing epidemic, as well as rapid advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of and treatment options for this major public health problem.
This three-day symposium is designed to meet the following two objectives:

1. Provide a current review of new information on the basic and clinical science and pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation and atrial fibrillation-related stroke.
2. Provide a detailed presentation of the most recent developments in the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation and prevention of AF-related stroke and other sequelae, with an emphasis on current and evolving pharmacologic and nonpharmacological therapies and enabling new technologies in the field of cardiac electrophysiology.

The scientific basis for, clinical experience with and limitations of new and existing therapies for atrial fibrillation and prevention of atrial fibrillation-related stroke will be explored.  In addition to formal lectures, recorded case presentations, case discussions, focused mini-symposia and faculty-audience interactions using an audience response system will be used to highlight the current state of scientific knowledge in areas of major importance to clinicians. The faculty is selected to provide the highest quality teaching and access to the most current scientific information from leading international experts in the field.
 
At the conclusion of this symposium, the participant should be able to describe and discuss:

• The molecular basis of atrial remodeling and AF perpetuation
• Roles of obesity and obstructive apnea in promoting AF in experimental models
• Translation of results of genome wide association studies to clinical practice
• Advances in antiarrhythmic drug therapy for AF
• The best basic and clinical science publications on AF for 2011
• Risks and benefits of dronedarone in clinical practice - results of Andromeda, Athena and Pallas
• The salutary effects of yoga and stress reduction techniques in the management of AF
• The physiology of lesion formation during catheter ablation of AF
• The basic mechanisms of PV reconnection after catheter ablation of AF
• Pharmacologic strategies to unmask PV reconnection during catheter ablation of AF
• The role of adenosine, waiting time, early monitoring, antiarrhythmic drugs and steroids in detecting and modifying PV reconnection
• Techniques to improve catheter contact during AF ablation
• The durability of PV isolation with different energy sources
• The physiology of rotors in experimental models of AF
• The relationship of electrical rotors and focal beats to CFAE and their role in causing human AF
• Insights into the mechanisms of human AF from noninvasive mapping techniques
• Recommendations in the new 2012 HRS Consensus Document on AF Ablation
• Results of AF registries and surveys on how patients with AF are managed in clinical practice
• The design, results and limitations of new anticoagulant trials on stroke prevention in AF
• The practical implications of trial data and current clinical experience with novel anticoagulants
• The management of anticoagulation before, during and after AF ablation
• The management of anticoagulation for cardiac device implantation, cardioversion and perioperative management in patients with AF
• Mechanical approaches to stroke prevention
• Surgical management of the left atrial appendage
• The risk of stroke in patients with asymptomatic AF detected by implanted pacers and ICDs
• The incidence of asymptomatic intracranial thromboembolic events after AF ablation
• The results of recent clinical trials in AF ablation  
• The long term outcomes of catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF
• The nature of and therapeutic strategies for managing late recurrences after AF ablation
• The role of long term monitoring techniques in detecting recurrences after AF ablation
• The role of PV isolation in patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial flutter
• The efficacy and safety of pulmonary vein isolation alone for persistent AF
• The efficacy and safety of stepwise substrate modification for persistent AF
• The predictive value of conversion to NSR during catheter ablation of persistent AF
• The five-year outcomes of catheter ablation for longstanding persistent AF
• The efficacy and safety of catheter ablation in patients with prosthetic heart valves
• The surgical management of persistent AF
• The utility of contact force sensing for lesion monitoring during AF ablation
• The utility of direct visualization techniques for lesion monitoring during AF ablation
• The utility of tissue temperature for lesion monitoring during AF ablation
• The utility of MRI for lesion monitoring during AF ablation
• The role of rapid, high-resolution automated catheter mapping of complex left atrial tachycardias after catheter and surgical ablation of AF
• The risks and complications of AF ablation

This symposium is designed for cardiologists, internists, fellows, nurses and technicians with an interest in cardiac arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation.