Atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular extrasystoles are the commonest rhythm disturbances. It can be found in 0.4% patients younger than 60, 2-4% in elder than 60, 11% in elder than 70 and 17% in patients over age 84. In Framingham study on 5209 patients, age 32-62, incidence and prognosis of AF was followed. Incidence of AF was higher in male patients with incidence increasing with age in both genders. We analyzed 255 patients from cardiology department of Mostar Clinical Hospital, 122 (48%) male and 133 (52.2%) female patients. Patients were divided by latest classification and treated in accordance to Sicilian Gambit recommendations. In 71 (27.84%) patients conversion to sinus rhythm was achieved successfully. The commonest complication of AF was brain stroke in 32 (12.5%) patients, lethal in 14 (5.4%). There is still an controversy: which is the way to prevent thromboembolic complications in AF, how and how long patients on the risk should be followed on clinical, echocardiographical and laboratory parameters as a predictors of brain stroke and sudden death.
Keywords: atrial fibrillation, brain stroke, Sicilian Gambit approach, anticoagulation.