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Review
. 2011 Jul;8(7):994-1000.
doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2011.02.033. Epub 2011 Mar 10.

Pulmonary vein isolation with complex fractionated atrial electrogram ablation for paroxysmal and nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation: A meta-analysis

Robert M Hayward  1 , Gaurav A Upadhyay, Theofanie Mela, Patrick T Ellinor, Conor D Barrett, E Kevin Heist, Atul Verma, Niteesh K Choudhry, Jagmeet P Singh
Affiliations
Review

Pulmonary vein isolation with complex fractionated atrial electrogram ablation for paroxysmal and nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation: A meta-analysis

Robert M Hayward et al. Heart Rhythm. 2011 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is recognized as a potentially curative treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). Ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) in addition to PVI has been advocated as a means to improve procedural outcomes, but the benefit remains unclear.

Objective: This study sought t synthesize the available data testing the incremental benefit of adding CFAE ablation to PVI.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of controlled studies comparing the effect of PVI with CFAE ablation vs. PVI alone in patients with paroxysmal and nonparoxysmal AF.

Results: Of the 481 reports identified, 8 studies met our inclusion criteria. There was a statistically significant increase in freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) with the addition of CFAE ablation (relative risk [RR] 1.15, P = .03). In the 5 reports of nonparoxysmal AF (3 randomized controlled trials, 1 controlled clinical trial, and 1 trial using matched historical controls), addition of CFAE ablation resulted in a statistically significant increase in freedom from AT (n = 112 of 181 [62%] for PVI+CFAE vs. n = 84 of 179 [47%] for PVI alone; RR 1.32, P = .02). In trials of paroxysmal AF (3 randomized controlled trials and 1 trial using matched historical controls), addition of CFAE ablation did not result in a statistically significant increase in freedom from AT (n = 131 of 166 [79%] for PVI+CFAE vs. n = 122 of 164 [74%] for PVI alone; RR 1.04, P = .52).

Conclusion: In these studies of patients with nonparoxysmal AF, addition of CFAE ablation to PVI results in greater improvement in freedom from AF. No additional benefit of this combined approach was observed in patients with paroxysmal AF.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Search Flow Diagram for Reports Included in the Meta-Analysis
Figure 2
Figure 2
Individual Study Characteristics RCT = randomized controlled trial LA = left atrium
Figure 3
Figure 3
Freedom from Atrial Tachyarrhythmia for All Studies CI = confidence interval
Figure 4
Figure 4
Freedom from Atrial Tachyarrhythmia for Paroxysmal AF CI = confidence interval
Figure 5
Figure 5
Freedom from Atrial Tachyarrhythmia for Nonparoxysmal AF CI = confidence interval
Figure 6
Figure 6
Procedure Time and Fluoroscopy Time. Procedure time (A) and fluoroscopy time (B), both in minutes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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