For all the debates on rate vs rhythm control, contemporary analyses show little change in atrial fibrillation (AF) mortality rates in the past 20 years. Will recent developments, including novel pharmacologic agents and advances in catheter ablation, translate into meaningful clinical benefit for patients? Drs Camm, Falk, Knecht, and Hohnloser each give presentations on key issues relating to the contemporary management of patients with AF.

The rate vs rhythm AF trials suggest that rhythm-managed AF patients experience more strokes possibly due to cessation of warfarin in patients with unrecognized, asymptomatic AF. Stuart Connolly presents the ESC late-breaking ATHENA findings that challenge this viewpoint and Drs Fox, Dorian, and Steg discuss the implications and possible mechanisms.

An investigator and clinical scholar, Dr. Christopher Granger, MD, the program chairman, and his distinguished colleagues illuminate the emerging threats and clinical challenges cardiologists face when managing patients who present with, or undergo, acute, severe, serious, precipitous, and/or life-threatening elevations in systemic blood pressure.

Drs Lindsay, Brugada, Gold and Stein highlight the most recent clinical trial data demonstrating the efficacy and safety of ICDs and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices and their potential impact on clinical practice.

This program delivers evidence-based education, debate on the issues, data from randomized trials, observational data, and objective opinions from leaders in cardiology on the subject of antiplatelet therapies and their appropriate use in atherothrombosis.

What is the ideal antithrombotic therapy for the management of STEMI patients? Please join Dr Antman and an expert panel as they discuss the latest clinical trial data from the AHA 2006 Scientific Sessions regarding the management of STEMI patients.