Related Experiment Videos
Therapeutic strategies for atrial fibrillation. The value of decision analysis
M L Greenberg1, D J Malenka, D L Disch
1Section of Cardiology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
Abstract:
In the absence of randomized, controlled trials of low-dose amiodarone in atrial fibrillation or a randomized, controlled trial of ventricular rate control versus antifibrillatory therapy, a Markov decision analysis is useful in comparing different therapeutic strategies for atrial fibrillation. The decision analysis described compared warfarin, quinidine, and low-dose amiodarone in patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic chronic, persistent atrial fibrillation. This model suggests that electrical cardioversion followed by low-dose amiodarone is a relatively safe, effective alternative to long-term warfarin therapy.