Patent ID: 7729763

Claim:
A method of preventing an early recurring atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF) episode, comprising: detecting an AF episode; commencing atrial overdrive pacing therapy delivery at an overdrive pacing rate upon detection of a relatively long pause between successive sensed P-waves during the detected AF episode, wherein detecting the AF episode is characterized by detecting an AF return cycle length (AFRCL) interval of between about 100 milliseconds (ms) and about 360 ms, wherein the relatively long pause comprises an extended return cycle length (ERCL) length approximately 40 ms to 100 ms longer than the AFRCL, and wherein said overdrive pacing therapy commences at a atrial pacing interval having a duration between the AFRCL and the ERCL; and continuing said overdrive pacing therapy delivery for a relatively short period of time extending beyond successful termination of said AF episode; and rapidly decreasing the overdrive pacing rate until one of a normal sinus rhythm emerges and a lower programmed pacing rate is reached.