Where data were available , the relative benefits seen held true both after a single or multiple procedure(s ) .
For patients with persistent atrial fibrillation , CA achieves significantly greater freedom from recurrent atrial fibrillation compared with medical therapy .
BACKGROUND Catheter ablation ( CA ) is commonly performed for persistent atrial fibrillation , but few high- quality r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) exist , leading to funding restrictions being proposed in several countries .
We performed a r and om-effects meta- analysis of RCTs and non- RCTs to assess the efficacy of CA for persistent atrial fibrillation .
Catheter ablation treatment in patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation: a prospective, multi-centre, randomized, controlled study (Catheter Ablation For The Cure Of Atrial Fibrillation Study).
AIMS We conducted a multi-centre , prospect i ve , controlled , r and omized trial to investigate the adjunctive role of ablation therapy to antiarrhythmic drug therapy in preventing  atrial fibrillation ( AF )  relapses in patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF in whom antiarrhythmic drug therapy had already failed . METHODS AND RESULTS One hundred and thirty seven patients were r and omized to ablation and antiarrhythmic drug therapy ( ablation group ) or antiarrhythmic drug therapy alone ( control group ) . In the ablation group , patients underwent cavo-tricuspid and left inferior pulmonary vein (PV)-mitral isthmus ablation plus circumferential PV ablation . The primary end-point of the study was the absence of any recurrence of atrial arrhythmia lasting > 30 s in the 1-year follow-up period , after 1-month blanking period . Three ( 4.4 % ) major complications were related to ablation : one patient had a stroke during left atrium ablation , another suffered transient phrenic paralysis , and the third had a pericardial effusion which required pericardiocentesis . After 12 months of follow-up , 63/69 ( 91.3 % ) control group patients had at least one AF recurrence , whereas 30/68 ( 44.1 % ) ( P<0.001 ) ablation group patients had atrial arrhythmia recurrence ( four patients had atrial flutter , 26 patients AF ) . CONCLUSION Ablation therapy combined with antiarrhythmic drug therapy is superior to antiarrhythmic drug therapy alone in preventing atrial arrhythmia recurrences in patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF in whom antiarrhythmic drug therapy has already failed
Where data were available , the relative benefits seen held true both after a single or multiple procedure(s ) .
For patients with persistent atrial fibrillation , CA achieves significantly greater freedom from recurrent atrial fibrillation compared with medical therapy .
BACKGROUND Catheter ablation ( CA ) is commonly performed for persistent atrial fibrillation , but few high- quality r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) exist , leading to funding restrictions being proposed in several countries .
We performed a r and om-effects meta- analysis of RCTs and non- RCTs to assess the efficacy of CA for persistent atrial fibrillation .