Atrial fibrillation (AF) remains the most common clinically encountered arrhythmia and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Since catheter ablation of AF was first described in 1998, interest in AF has greatly increased. Pulmonary vein isolation has proven to be highly effective in maintaining sinus rhythm, controlling symptoms, and improving quality of life in a selected group of patients suffering from this arrhythmia. Randomized clinical trials have shown that attempting to restore and maintain sinus rhythm with antiarrhythmic drugs was not superior to a strategy of heart rate control, mainly because the beneficial effects of effective rhythm control were counter balanced by the adverse effects associated to the use of antiarrhythmic drugs. Consequently, achievement of sinus rhythm by nonpharmacological means could potentially improve patient's outcome. The understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment options for AF is constantly growing, and numerous techniques and technologies are being applied in order to improve clinical results and reduce complications associated to these procedures. Despite the fact that in the majority of patients, catheter ablation results in a favourable clinical outcome with a small risk of complications, the possibility of major complications is not neglectable, and the procedure remains technically challenging. Besides percutaneous catheter ablation procedures, surgical interventions aimed at controlling this arrhythmia are also evolving and are increasingly applied.

The main focus of the issue will be to review the existing evidence and provide latest research on nonpharmacological therapies for patients with AF. The special issue will become an international forum for researchers to summarize the most recent development and ideas in this field. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Basic science insights on atrial fibrillation mechanisms and ablation
• Anatomy of the left atrium and adjacent structures
• New techniques and technologies for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation
• Different approaches and procedural endpoints for ablation
• Extracardiac factors influencing the results of the ablation procedures
• Prevention, recognition, and treatment of complications during ablation procedures
• Management of postprocedural atrial arrhythmias
• Long-term followup and general care of patients after catheter ablation
• Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation

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