[Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: clinically established or still an experimental method?]

Abstract

Interventional treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) has been introduced as a therapeutic option soon after the pulmonary veins (PV) have been discovered as the dominant sources of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Elimination of PV conduction is the initial goal during catheter ablation in this setting. The success rate after the initial procedure varies between 60% and 85%, with > 80% after subsequent interventions. Supported by the current guidelines, interventional treatment of AF is indicated in case of symptomatic arrhythmias refractory to antiarrhythmic treatment. The introduction of the combined, stepwise approach has been another important breakthrough with regard to the treatment of chronic persistent atrial fibrillation (CAF). This strategy includes the combination of all conventional ablation strategies (pulmonary vein isolation [PVI], defragmentation, linear ablation) with the goal of AF termination by radiofrequency current. The first procedure for CAF treatment is quite frequently also only the first step toward stable sinus rhythm with a favorable outcome after AF termination (> 80% sinus rhythm). In more than half of the patients predominantly atrial arrhythmias other than AF have to be targeted in a second procedure. This approach is currently under clinical investigation and so far not "clinically established" due to the fact that it is a quite time-consuming and challenging procedure even in experienced centers. Future studies may help to identify predictors for procedure failure (e.g., left atrial size, AF duration, atrial cycle length) in order to improve patient selection. Additionally, it has to be underscored, that in PAF the relatively high recurrence rate after the first procedure still is the subject of further investigations. This aspect might be improved by the introduction of novel strategies (i.e., testing of concealed PV conduction after ablation with adenosine) or technologies (i.e., robotic navigation) for PAF ablation.