Pearls and Pitfalls in Catheter Ablation of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

2017 HRS/EHRA/ECAS/APHRS/SOLAECE expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation

“…Due to the controversy around the various ablation techniques for persistent and long-term persistent AF, the prevalence and outcome of rotational activity ablations need further investigation. 1081 …”

Safety and Long-Term Success of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Using THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH® Catheter: Real-World Experience

“…Also, the use of CF in linear ablation strategies makes intuitive sense if the underlying hypothesis of benefit from additional linear lesions holds true. While conflicting data exist in the percutaneous ablation space [1,2] , the outcomes of surgical intervention for persAF are more encouraging, and it is at least theoretically possible that improved tools will improve outcomes for percutaneous linear ablation strategies [20] . The combination of CF technology and a tailored ablation strategy based on patient selection or cardiac disease presentation might therefore result in better treatment success for persAF ablation.…”

“…Atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently progresses from paroxysmal to persistent AF (persAF). Unlike paroxysmal AF ablation, an optimal ablation strategy for persAF beyond pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is unclear; long-term success rates remain low, and success varies depending upon the technique employed [1,2] .…”

The importance of extrapulmonary vein triggers and atypical atrial flutter in atrial fibrillation recurrence after cryoablation: Insights from repeat ablation procedures

“…Numerous important advances have been achieved in the past decade in catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of AF has been one of the therapies since the reports from Haïssaguerre et al and Chen et al Complete isolation of all pulmonary veins (PVs) is the cornerstone and established endpoint of AF ablation . With the application of three‐dimensional (3D) electroanatomical mapping, open‐irrigated catheter, and contact force guidance, the success of radiofrequency (RF) ablation has increased …”