The results o f surgical and interventional treatment o f atrial fibrillation using different techniques and approaches were considered, the authors ’ data were presented and the potentialities o f radiofrequency, microwave, and cryogenic ablation were compared.

То develop the technique o f radiofrequency catheter ablation o f autonomic ganglia in the left atrium and to assess its effectiveness for treatment o f atrial fibrillation, fifty-eight patients aged 41-67 years (mean age 52.1±1.9 years) were examined and operated on.

То determine the technique o f surgical treatment o f atrialfibrillation, fifty-two patients (32 ones with persistent and 20 ones with chronic atrial fibrillation) were examined and operated on since January 2001 to August 2005; in these patients, the radiofrequency isolation of pulmonary veins alone or in combination with applications to the left atrium, or the radiofrequency modification o f the “labyrinth ” operation were performed.

То assess the safety and effectiveness o f ostial ablation ofpulmonary veins in patients with different types o f atrial fibrillation, eighty-six patients were recruited for the study; the study group consisted o f 43 patients after the ablative procedure, the control group included 43 patients treated with antiarrhythmics and indirect anticoagulants.

То analyze the potentialities of 3D computed angiography for assessment o f the pulmonary vein and left atrial morphology in patients with atrialfibrillation for search for an optimal technique o f the radiofrequency catheter ablation and revelation ofpossible post-operative alterations, three hundred fifty examinations were performed in 311 patients.

The method o f mathematical subtraction o f pre-ectopic ST-interval developed by the authors is presented for visualization o f early atrial ectopy with a potentiality o f non-invasive localization o f arrhythmogenic atrial foci in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

То assess the effectiveness o f catheter radiofrequency isolation o f the pulmonary vein ostia in patients older 60 years with atrial fibrillation, fifty-seven patients in both study and control groups were examined and operated on.

То assess the effectiveness o f interventional treatment ofpatients with atrial fibrillation and an existent pulmonary vein collector fifty-six patients were examined and treated since 2000 to December 2005, in them, 79 procedures of radiofrequency catheter ablation were performed.

То summarize the experience of mapping of incoming activation to the pulmonary vein ostia based on the analysis of electropkysiological data obtained in the course of the pulmonary vein catheter isolation, the results of the study performed in 117 patients with atrial fibrillation were analyzed.

The current conceptions are presented on the mechanisms o f initiation and maintenance o f atrial fibrillation, role o f electro-anatomic mapping and spectral analysis for search for a technique o f radiofrequency ablation in patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation.