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 .
Segmental pulmonary vein antrum isolation using the "large-size" lasso catheter in patients with atrial fibrillation.
BACKGROUND The limited efficacy and complications of segmental ostial pulmonary vein isolation ( PVI ) for treating atrial fibrillation ( AF ) have been discussed so , in the present study the feasibility and efficiency of performing segmental pulmonary vein ( PV ) antrum isolation to treat AF were assessed . METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 187 patients with drug-refractory AF ( paroxysmal 120 , persistent 67 ) underwent segmental PVI guided by circumferential 20-electrode catheters ( Lasso ) . Radiofrequency ( RF ) current was delivered either at the ostium using a regular Lasso ( 15 - 20 mm in diameter , 70 patients : Group 1 ) or at the antrum using a larger Lasso ( 25 - 30 mm in diameter , 117 patients : Group 2 ) . A significantly wider region had to be ablated , with a longer RF application time , to isolate all 4 PVs in Group 2 patients than in Group 1 patients . Although the rate of recurrence of AF after the initial session was equal in both groups , a significantly greater number of patients were free from AF after a mean of 1.4 procedures in Group 2 than in Group 1 ( 93 % vs 76 % for paroxysmal AF , 78 % vs 48 % for persistent AF ) . CONCLUSIONS Segmental antral PVI using large-sized Lasso catheters was found to be more effective and safer than ostial PVI for the treatment of AF
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 .