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Efficacy of adjunctive ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms and pulmonary vein isolation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kong, MH; Piccini, JP; Bahnson, TD
Published in: Europace
February 2011

AIMS: Although useful, percutaneous left atrial ablation for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) does not eliminate atrial fibrillation (AF) in all patients. The ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) has been proposed as an adjunctive strategy to improve the maintenance of sinus rhythm after PVI. Our objective was to analyse the efficacy of adjunctive CFAE ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS: We meta-analysed six randomized controlled trials (total, n=538) using random-effects modelling to compare PVI (n=291) with PVI plus CFAE ablation (PVI+CFAE) (n=237). The primary outcome was freedom from AF or other atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs) after a single ablation with or without antiarrhythmic drugs. Following a single ablation, PVI+CFAE improved the odds of freedom from any AF/AT compared with PVI alone (odds ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.04-3.8, P=0.04) at ≥3-month follow-up. There was moderate heterogeneity among trials (I2=63.0%). Complex fractionated atrial electrogram ablation significantly increased mean procedural (178.5±66.9 vs. 331.5±92.6 min, P<0.001), mean fluoroscopy (59.5±22.2 vs. 115.5±35.3 min, P<0.001), and mean radiofrequency (RF) energy application times (46.9±36.6 vs. 74.4±43.0 min, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary vein isolation followed by adjunctive CFAE ablation is associated with increased freedom from AF after a single procedure. Adjunctive CFAE ablation increased procedural, fluoroscopy, and RF application times, and the risk/benefit profile of adjunctive CFAE ablation deserves further evaluation with additional studies and longer-term follow-up.

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Published In

Europace

DOI

EISSN

1532-2092

Publication Date

February 2011

Volume

13

Issue

2

Start / End Page

193 / 204

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Pulmonary Veins
  • Humans
  • Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac
  • Catheter Ablation
  • Cardiovascular System & Hematology
  • Atrial Fibrillation
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology
 

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Kong, Melissa H., Jonathan P. Piccini, and Tristram D. Bahnson. “Efficacy of adjunctive ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms and pulmonary vein isolation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Europace 13, no. 2 (February 2011): 193–204. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euq384.
Journal cover image

Published In

Europace

DOI

EISSN

1532-2092

Publication Date

February 2011

Volume

13

Issue

2

Start / End Page

193 / 204

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Pulmonary Veins
  • Humans
  • Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac
  • Catheter Ablation
  • Cardiovascular System & Hematology
  • Atrial Fibrillation
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology