[The nonpharmacological treatment of atrial fibrillation]

The authors describe the main forms of nonpharmacological treatment of atrial fibrillation considering catheter ablation and surgical therapy. A new methodology to modify atrioventricular conduction is discussed as well its long-term results. All studies are non-randomised with selected patients, which makes the development of a therapeutical algorithm difficult. However, the results have shown that it is possible to recover sinus rhythm through surgery or catheter ablation and to control the ventricular rate either by His ablation or modification of atrioventricular conduction.