Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder, affecting 2 to 3% of the population of Europe and North America. It is the cause of 20–25% of ischemic brain strokes. Michel Haïssaguerre was the first to identify that in most cases, atrial fibrillation is triggered by abnormal electrical impulses originating from the pulmonary veins, structures hitherto considered to be devoid of electrical activity. He pioneered the use of catheter ablation to treat atrial fibrillation using the technique of pulmonary vein isolation to prevent this abnormal electrical activity from reaching the atria. This technique underlies methods now used for treatment worldwide.