PAF?

[AbFab62]

There are many here who use the acronym PAF. So what does the P stand for, paroxysmal or persistent? Personally I always prefix AF with either paroxysmal or persistent.

[Alfieros]

I believe those that use the acronym are referring to Paroxysmal a fib. But now that you mention it, that a good point. It could mean either, I suppose.

[Hidden]

Personally, and just to throw a spanner in the works, (and not that I use it very often) but I have paroxysmal AF and would write it as pAF

[icklebud99]

Its "Paroxysmal" which is an episode of AF that stops spontaneously or with help in less than seven days. Hope this helps.

[jeanjeannie50]

To the right of this page you should see Pinned Posts and under those Abbreviations and Acronyms. Click on this if anyone needs help at times with this topic. Or click below:

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[AbFab62 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean. It seems strange that the acronym for paroxysmal AF is PAF, given that there's also Persistent AF. Btw I'm not a fan of jargon as I believe that the written word should be accessible to all without the need of an appendix to decipher it.

[P0rtnahapp1e in reply to AbFab62]

And Permanent AF which I have.

[AbFab62 in reply to P0rtnahapp1e]

Poor you, I hope it doesn't debilitate you too much.

[BobD Volunteer]

PAF is the accepted shortform of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. If you use the term AF why not accept PAF?

[AbFab62 in reply to BobD]

Because of the ambiguity i.e. paroxysmal and persistent both starting with P. PaAF and PeAF would make far more sense. I have never seen a letter from any of my consultants over the years or my GP using PAF, they always write it out in full.

[shorttail]

Sometimes reading posts here is like another language, it takes a while to understand

[AbFab62 in reply to shorttail]

Indeed.

[pottypete1]

Abbreviation classes are held every 5th Thursday when there is an ‘r’ in the month😜

[AbFab62 in reply to pottypete1]

Hahaha. That made me laugh out loud. Thanks

[Buffafly in reply to AbFab62]

Also spelling classes for those who can't spell parock no paroxiz no paroximal no b***** hell PAF!

[Thomas45]

I have always considered that PAF is Paroxysmal AF. I now have Permanent AF, or more accurately Usually asymptotic permanent AF. The vast majority of the time I can't feel it and my heart rate is about ninety bpm which is is acceptable.

[JonathanPittsCrick]

Yes, pAF is the abbreviation for paroxysmal AF (ie it comes and goes, stopping without having to take medication for each attack (and without electrical cardioversion). In the past, the alternative was cAF, meaning continuous or chronic (long-term) AF, so the abbreviations were clear and useful.

Unfortunately, a few years ago some committee of "experts" decided to divide cAF into two categories, separating those which could be converted back (at least temporarily) to normal (sinus) rhythm by drugs or cardioversion, which they called "persistent" AF, and those which could not be converted or where they had given up trying (which is a rather unhelpful imprecise category) which they called "permanent" AF. The really stupid thing was to give these categories names which also begin with "p" which obviously makes it very confusing.

So, personally I just use the pAF and cAF categories.

[AbFab62 in reply to JonathanPittsCrick]

Thanks, I can now see where the ambiguity arises. My AF was paroxysmal, but over the past two or three years has become persistent. Having suffered the condition for 30 years, I had my first ablation 8 weeks ago, which initially seemed to aggravate my AF, I've now been in sinus rhythm for 17 days, so maybe I'm be free of it. If only. One can live in hope.

[Offcut in reply to JonathanPittsCrick]

I agree that the meanings can change all the time? But untill it was bought up I did not think of it in other ways? I would of read PAF as Paroxysmal but if it was not I would say best to put Persistant AF. Or in my case Problematic AF due to multi-conditions messing up diagnosis and condition?

[Hidden]

Spare a thought for those of us who can’t make up our minds ; whether we should give up on the idea of having persistent AF plus AFL and gracefully accept that we have permanent AF/AFL. Either way, arguably cAF/AFL is sometimes preferable to the long search for the holy grail of permanent NSR while living with pAF/pAFL.

Spoken from the viewpoint of a double ablatee, 9 years down the track, older and possibly a little wiser, and now considering a second PM.

YMMV

[JonathanPittsCrick in reply to Hidden]

If you already have a pacemaker, you should discuss with your cardiologist the option of having a complete AV-node ablation – it is simple and has a 95%+ success rate. The downside is that you are quite likely to become pacemaker-dependent. This is extremely unlikely to cause a problem though it would be better to have your pacemaker replaced first.

[Hidden in reply to JonathanPittsCrick]

Thank you.

Do you think that the default for this approach should be biventricular leads?

Is there a register of EPs other than yourself who specialise in complex pacemaker management of AF? I am in Yorkshire.

[AIW58]

I once read a GP letter (I am a nurse) and it referred to 'paracetamol AF' !!

[irene75359 in reply to AIW58]

Now that really made me laugh!

[AbFab62 in reply to irene75359]

Same here.