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Cardiology — Atrial Fibrillation Management Template

Cardiology Cardiology Updated: 11/26/2025

The Atrial Fibrillation Management Template is designed for cardiologists and electrophysiologists managing patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter. This template documents rhythm assessment, stroke risk stratification, anticoagulation management, rate/rhythm control strategies, and procedural planning. Supports appropriate billing for E/M services and includes CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scoring, medication optimization, and cardioversion or ablation planning. Ideal for cardiology practices, EP clinics, and anticoagulation management services.

Template

Visit Information

Date: [Date]
Visit type: New AFib / Follow-up / Post-procedure / Urgent

Atrial Fibrillation History

Type: Paroxysmal / Persistent / Long-standing persistent / Permanent
Date of diagnosis: [Date]
Duration of current episode: [If applicable]
Known triggers: [Alcohol, caffeine, sleep deprivation, stress, illness]
Prior cardioversions: [Dates, success]
Prior ablations: [Dates, type, success]

Symptom Assessment

EHRA Score: I / IIa / IIb / III / IV
Palpitations: None / [Frequency, duration]
Dyspnea: None / Exertional / Rest
Fatigue: None / Mild / Moderate / Severe
Chest discomfort: None / [Details]
Lightheadedness: None / [Details]
Exercise intolerance: None / [Details]
Syncope: None / [Details]
Symptom burden: Asymptomatic / Mildly symptomatic / Significantly symptomatic

Stroke Risk Assessment

CHA2DS2-VASc Score: [0-9]

  • C: CHF/LV dysfunction (1 point): Yes / No
  • H: Hypertension (1 point): Yes / No
  • A2: Age ≥75 (2 points): Yes / No
  • D: Diabetes (1 point): Yes / No
  • S2: Stroke/TIA/thromboembolism (2 points): Yes / No
  • V: Vascular disease (1 point): Yes / No
  • A: Age 65-74 (1 point): Yes / No
  • Sc: Sex category female (1 point): Yes / No

Annual stroke risk: [X]% (based on score)
Anticoagulation indicated: Yes / No

Bleeding Risk Assessment

HAS-BLED Score: [0-9]

  • H: Hypertension (uncontrolled >160) (1 point): Yes / No
  • A: Abnormal renal/liver function (1-2 points): Yes / No
  • S: Stroke history (1 point): Yes / No
  • B: Bleeding history/predisposition (1 point): Yes / No
  • L: Labile INR (if on warfarin) (1 point): Yes / No
  • E: Elderly >65 (1 point): Yes / No
  • D: Drugs/alcohol (1-2 points): Yes / No

Bleeding risk: Low (<3) / High (≥3)

Current Anticoagulation

Status: On anticoagulation / Not anticoagulated / Contraindicated
Agent: Warfarin / Apixaban / Rivaroxaban / Dabigatran / Edoxaban / None
Dose: [Dose, frequency]
Duration on therapy: [X] months/years
Compliance: Excellent / Good / Fair / Poor
INR (if warfarin): [Value], TTR: [X]%
Renal function (CrCl): [X] mL/min — Dose appropriate: Yes / No
Prior bleeding events: None / [Details]
Prior thromboembolic events: None / [Details]

Rate vs Rhythm Control Strategy

Current strategy: Rate control / Rhythm control
Rationale: [Patient preference, symptom burden, structural heart disease]
Rate control:

  • Target HR: <110 bpm (lenient) / <80 bpm (strict)
  • Current resting HR: [X] bpm
  • Agents: [Beta-blocker, CCB, digoxin, doses]
  • Control achieved: Yes / No

Rhythm control:

  • Antiarrhythmic: [Flecainide, propafenone, sotalol, dofetilide, amiodarone, dronedarone]
  • Dose: [X]
  • Duration: [X]
  • Side effects: None / [Details]
  • Efficacy: Maintaining SR / Breakthrough AFib [frequency]

Physical Examination

Vital signs: BP [X/X], HR [X] ([regular/irregular]), RR [X], SpO2 [X]%
Cardiovascular:

  • JVP: Normal / Elevated
  • Heart rhythm: Regular / Irregularly irregular
  • Heart rate: Controlled / Uncontrolled
  • Murmurs: None / [Description]
  • S3/S4: Absent / Present

Lungs: Clear / [Findings]
Extremities: No edema / [Findings]
Neurological: [Focal deficits if stroke concern]

Diagnostic Studies

ECG: [Rhythm, rate, intervals, ST-T changes]

  • Rhythm: Sinus / AFib / Aflutter / [Other]
  • Ventricular rate: [X] bpm
  • PR/QRS/QTc: [Values]

Recent Holter/monitor: [Date, AFib burden %, average HR, max HR]
Echocardiogram: [Date, EF, LA size, LVH, valves]

  • LA diameter/volume: [X] cm / [X] mL/m²

TEE (if applicable): [Date, LAA thrombus, spontaneous echo contrast]
Sleep study: Done / Pending / Not indicated — OSA: Yes / No / Unknown

Assessment

1) Atrial fibrillation — [Type], CHA2DS2-VASc [X], HAS-BLED [X]
Rate control: Adequate / Inadequate
Rhythm control: Maintaining SR / Recurrent AFib
Anticoagulation: Appropriate / Needs adjustment / Contraindicated
2) [Associated conditions: HTN, HFrEF, valvular disease, OSA, thyroid]

Plan

1) Anticoagulation:

  • Continue [agent, dose] / Change to [agent, dose] / Initiate [agent]
  • Rationale: [CHA2DS2-VASc justification]
  • Monitoring: [INR schedule if warfarin, renal function]

2) Rate control:

  • Continue current regimen / Adjust [specific changes]
  • Target: HR <[X] bpm at rest

3) Rhythm control:

  • Continue [AAD] / Adjust dose / Discontinue / Initiate [AAD]
  • Monitoring: [QTc, renal/liver function, thyroid if amiodarone]

4) Procedural considerations:

  • Cardioversion: [Planned date / Not indicated]
  • Catheter ablation: [Referral / Scheduled / Not candidate]
  • LAA occlusion: [If anticoagulation contraindicated]
  • AV node ablation + pacemaker: [If rate control failing]

5) Lifestyle modifications:

  • Weight loss: [If BMI elevated]
  • Alcohol reduction: [If trigger identified]
  • OSA treatment: [CPAP compliance]
  • Exercise: [Recommendations]

6) Monitoring:

  • Labs: [BMP, CBC, LFTs, TSH timing]
  • ECG: [Timing for QTc if on AAD]
  • Device check: [If pacemaker/ICD]

7) Follow-up:

  • Cardiology/EP: [Timeframe]
  • Anticoagulation clinic: [If applicable]

Patient Education

AFib overview, stroke risk and anticoagulation importance, symptoms requiring urgent evaluation (stroke signs, severe bleeding, rapid palpitations), medication compliance, lifestyle modifications, when to seek emergency care.

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