Cited by 2,852Atrial Fibrillation Management and OutcomesCardiac Arrhythmias and TreatmentsCardiac pacing and defibrillation studies

Updated worldwide survey on the methods, efficacy, and safety of catheter ablation for human atrial fibrillation

Cappato, Riccardo, Calkins, Hugh, Chen, Shih-Ann, Davies, Wyn, Iesaka, Yoshito, Kalman, Jonathan, Kim, You-Ho, Klein, George +5 more·2010·Circulation Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to provide an updated worldwide report on the methods, efficacy, and safety of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS AND RESULTS: A questionnaire with 46 questions was sent to 521 centers from 24 countries in 4 continents. Complete interviews were collected from 182 centers, of which 85 reported to have performed 20,825 catheter ablation procedures on 16,309 patients with AF between 2003 and 2006. The median number of procedures per center was 245 (range, 2 to 2715). All centers included paroxysmal AF, 85.9% also included persistent and 47.1% also included long-lasting AF. Carto-guided left atrial circumferential ablation (48.2% of patients) and Lasso-guided ostial electric disconnection (27.4%) were the most commonly used techniques. Efficacy data were analyzed with centers representing the unit of analysis. Of 16,309 patients with full disclosure of outcome data, 10 488 (median, 70.0%; interquartile range, 57.7% to 75.4%) became asymptomatic without antiarrhythmic drugs and another 2047 (10.0%; 0.5% to 17.1%) became asymptomatic in the presence of previously ineffective antiarrhythmic drugs over 18 (range, 3 to 24) months of follow-up. Success rates free of antiarrhythmic drugs and overall success rates were significantly larger in 9590 patients with paroxysmal AF (74.9% and 83.2%) than in 2800 patients with persistent AF (64.8% and 75.0%) and 1108 patients with long-lasting AF (63.1% and 72.3%) (P<0.0001). Major complications were reported in 741 patients (4.5%). CONCLUSIONS: When analyzed in a large number of electrophysiology laboratories worldwide, catheter ablation of AF shows to be effective in approximately 80% of patients after 1.3 procedures per patient, with approximately 70% of them not requiring further antiarrhythmic drugs during intermediate follow-up.

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Crossref · 10.1161/circep.109.859116

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  • In patients who experience symptomatic recurrences of atrial fibrillation despite antiarrhythmic drug therapy, all randomized controlled trials showed better sinus rhythm maintenance with catheter ablation than on antiarrhythmic drugs.

    “In patients who experience symptomatic recurrences of AF despite antiarrhythmic drug therapy, all RCTs showed better sinus rhythm maintenance with catheter ablation than on antiarrhythmic drugs.586,713,727,728”
  • Five to seven per cent of patients will suffer severe complications after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, and 2-3% will experience life-threatening but usually manageable complications.

    “Five to seven per cent of patients will suffer severe complications after catheter ablation of AF, and 2-3% will experience life-threatening but usually manageable complications.727,[748][749][750]”

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Authors
Cappato, R., Calkins, H., Chen, S.-A., Davies, W., Iesaka, Y., Kalman, J., Kim, Y.-H., Klein, G., Natale, A., Packer, D., Skanes, A., Ambrogi, F., & Biganzoli, E.
Affiliations
The Royal Melbourne Hospital (AU)
Venue
Circulation Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology
Published
2010-02
Volume
3
Issue
1
Pages
32-38
ISSN
  • 1941-3084 (ISSN-L)
  • 1941-3149
OpenAlex
W2146673314
Cited by
2,852
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 42 · 2024: 51 · 2023: 68 · 2022: 81 · 2021: 110 · 2020: 126 · 2019: 125 · 2018: 141 · 2017: 177 · 2016: 199 · 2015: 184 · 2014: 220 · 2013: 246 · 2012: 218
FWCI
156.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Circulation Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Atrial Fibrillation Management and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Arrhythmias and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac pacing and defibrillation studies
Keywords
catheter ablation, atrial fibrillation, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, persistent atrial fibrillation, ablation efficacy, ablation safety, procedural complications, CARTO system
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anticoagulants, Atrial Fibrillation, Data Collection, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Treatment Outcome, Catheter Ablation, Young Adult

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