7
Table 3. Initial Clinical Evaluation in Patients With AF
(cont'd)
Additional Testing (1 or several tests may be necessary)
6-min walk test • If the adequacy of rate control is in question
Exercise testing • If the adequacy of rate control is in question
• To exclude ischemia before treatment of selected
patients with a type IC
a
antiarrhythmic drug
Holter or event monitoring • If diagnosis of the type of arrhythmia is in question
• As a means of evaluating rate control
TEE • To identify LA thrombus (in the LAA)
• To guide cardioversion
Electrophysiological study • To clarify the mechanism of wide–QRS-complex
tachycardia
• To identify a predisposing arrhythmia such as atrial
flutter or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
• To seek sites for curative AF ablation or AV
conduction block/modification
Chest radiograph, to
evaluate
• Lung parenchyma, when clinical findings suggest an
abnormality
• Pulmonary vasculature, when clinical findings suggest
an abnormality
a
Type IC refers to the Vaughan Williams classification of antiarrhythmic drugs.
