Ernst A Raeder, MD, is associate professor of medicine, Cardiology Division, State University of New York, Stony Brook.

Cardiac arrest (CA) is a leading cause of death in industrial countries, with approximately 350 000 fatal episodes each year in the United States alone.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinical arrhythmia and is of enormous importance for public health in view of its significant mortality and morbidity.