Foreword. Preface. Section 1: Concepts and Clinics of Atrial Fibrillation. 1. From Experiment to Therapeutic Innovation in Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter. 2. Atrial Functional Anatomy. 3. The Pathology of Drug Resistant Lone Atrial Fibrillation in Eleven Surgically Treated Patients. 4. Termination of Atrial Fibrillation by Classic Antiarrhythmic Drugs, a Paradox? 5. Characteristics of Patients with Chronic Atrial Fibrillation and the Prediction of Successful DC Electrical Cardioversion. Section 2: Recent Advances in the Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter. 6. Pharmacological Cardioversion of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter to Sinus Rhythm. 7. Drugs after Cardioversion to Prevent Relapses of Chronic Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter. 8. Episodic Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. 9. An AICD for Atrial Fibrillation? 10. The 'Corridor' Operation as an Alternative in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. Section 3: Why Aggressive Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation? 11. Tachycardiomyopathy in Patients with Supraventricular Tachycardia. 12. Sinus Rhythm, the Autonomic Nervous System, and Quality of Life. 13. Atrial Tachyarrhythmias following Coronary Bypass Surgery: Sympathetic Mechanisms. 14. Management of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter shortly after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery. 15. Risk and Prevention of Embolism in Atrial Fibrillation. 16. Value of Left Atrial Appendage Flow Velocitiesin Patients with Nonrheumatic Atrial Fibrillation and Systemic Embolism. 17. Management of Atrial Fibrillation: From Palliation to Intervention.Index.