Mathematical approaches to understanding and imaging atrial fibrillation: significance for mechanisms and management.

ABSTRACT: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in humans. The mechanisms that govern AF initiation and persistence are highly complex, of dynamic nature, and involve interactions across multiple temporal and spatial scales in the atria. This article aims to review the mathematical modeling and computer simulation approaches to understanding AF mechanisms and aiding in its management. Various atrial modeling approaches are presented, with descriptions of the methodological basis and advancements in both lower-dimensional and realistic geometry models. A review of the most significant mechanistic insights made by atrial simulations is provided. The article showcases the contributions that atrial modeling and simulation have made not only to our understanding of the pathophy

SUBMITTER: Trayanova NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4043630 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature