BACKGROUND: Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been published to investigate the optimal techniques for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Many of these are small in number and include both paroxysmal and persistent AF; however, the techniques for each of these types of AF may differ. METHOD AND RESULTS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register for RCTs evaluating AF ablation for either paroxysmal or persistent AF. The primary endpoint was freedom from AF after a single procedure. A total of 35 unique randomized controlled trials were found to fulfill the criteria. A significant degree of heterogeneity was present given the differing sample sizes, populations studied, and outcomes. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was found to be favorable in prevention of AF over antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) in either paroxysmal (5 studies, RR 2.26; 95% CI 1.74, 2.94) or persistent AF (5 studies, RR 3.20; 95% CI 1.29, 8.41). When comparing specific techniques, wide-area PVI appeared to offer the most benefit for both paroxysmal (6 studies, RR 0.78; 95% CI 0.63, 0.97) and persistent AF (3 studies, RR 0.64; 95% CI 0.43, 0.94). CFE ablation provided only benefit for persistent AF when combined with antral PVI (4 studies, RR 0.55; 95% CI 0.34, 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant methodological limitations, it appears that additional ablations beyond PVI are necessary for persistent AF but not proven for paroxysmal AF. The optimal technique for persistent AF, however, deserves a further study, in the setting of a large, randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND: Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been published to investigate the optimal techniques for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Many of these are small in number and include both paroxysmal and persistent AF; however, the techniques for each of these types of AF may differ. METHOD AND RESULTS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register for RCTs evaluating AF ablation for either paroxysmal or persistent AF. The primary endpoint was freedom from AF after a single procedure. A total of 35 unique randomized controlled trials were found to fulfill the criteria. A significant degree of heterogeneity was present given the differing sample sizes, populations studied, and outcomes. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was found to be favorable in prevention of AF over antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) in either paroxysmal (5 studies, RR 2.26; 95% CI 1.74, 2.94) or persistent AF (5 studies, RR 3.20; 95% CI 1.29, 8.41). When comparing specific techniques, wide-area PVI appeared to offer the most benefit for both paroxysmal (6 studies, RR 0.78; 95% CI 0.63, 0.97) and persistent AF (3 studies, RR 0.64; 95% CI 0.43, 0.94). CFE ablation provided only benefit for persistent AF when combined with antral PVI (4 studies, RR 0.55; 95% CI 0.34, 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant methodological limitations, it appears that additional ablations beyond PVI are necessary for persistent AF but not proven for paroxysmal AF. The optimal technique for persistent AF, however, deserves a further study, in the setting of a large, randomized controlled trial.
Authors: Hugh Calkins; Karl Heinz Kuck; Riccardo Cappato; Josep Brugada; A John Camm; Shih-Ann Chen; Harry J G Crijns; Ralph J Damiano; D Wyn Davies; John DiMarco; James Edgerton; Kenneth Ellenbogen; Michael D Ezekowitz; David E Haines; Michel Haissaguerre; Gerhard Hindricks; Yoshito Iesaka; Warren Jackman; Jose Jalife; Pierre Jais; Jonathan Kalman; David Keane; Young-Hoon Kim; Paulus Kirchhof; George Klein; Hans Kottkamp; Koichiro Kumagai; Bruce D Lindsay; Moussa Mansour; Francis E Marchlinski; Patrick M McCarthy; J Lluis Mont; Fred Morady; Koonlawee Nademanee; Hiroshi Nakagawa; Andrea Natale; Stanley Nattel; Douglas L Packer; Carlo Pappone; Eric Prystowsky; Antonio Raviele; Vivek Reddy; Jeremy N Ruskin; Richard J Shemin; Hsuan-Ming Tsao; David Wilber Journal: J Interv Card Electrophysiol Date: 2012-03 Impact factor: 1.900
Authors: Craig T January; L Samuel Wann; Joseph S Alpert; Hugh Calkins; Joaquin E Cigarroa; Joseph C Cleveland; Jamie B Conti; Patrick T Ellinor; Michael D Ezekowitz; Michael E Field; Katherine T Murray; Ralph L Sacco; William G Stevenson; Patrick J Tchou; Cynthia M Tracy; Clyde W Yancy Journal: Circulation Date: 2014-03-28 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: María S Guillem; Andreu M Climent; Miguel Rodrigo; Francisco Fernández-Avilés; Felipe Atienza; Omer Berenfeld Journal: Cardiovasc Res Date: 2016-01-19 Impact factor: 10.787
Authors: Attila Benák; M Kohári; A Herczeg; A Makai; G Bencsik; L Sághy; R Pap Journal: J Interv Card Electrophysiol Date: 2019-02-28 Impact factor: 1.900