Ablation of Complex Fractionated Electrograms Improves Outcome in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation of Over 2 Years’ Duration

Claire A Martin1, James P Curtain1, Parag R Gajendragadkar1, David A Begley1, Simon P Fynn1, Andrew A Grace1, Patrick M Heck1, Munmohan S Virdee1, Sharad Agarwal1

1Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Papworth Everard, Cambridge CB23 3RE, UK.

Abstract

Aim

There is controversy and sparse data on whether substrate based techniques in addition to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) confer benefit in the catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), especially if long standing. We performed an observational study to assess whether substrate based ablation improved freedom from atrial arrhythmia.

Methods

A total of 286 patients undergoing first ablation procedures for persistent AF with PVI only(n = 79), PVI plus linear ablation(n = 85), or PVI plus complex fractionated electrogram (CFAE) and linear ablation(n = 107) were followed. Primary end point was freedom from atrial arrhythmia at one year.

Results

Mean duration of pre-procedure time in AF was 28+/-27 months.There were no differences in baseline characteristics between groups except a higher proportion of patients with a severely dilated LA in those receiving PVI+CFAEs+lines. Freedom from atrial arrhythmia was higher with a PVI+CFAE+lines strategy then for PVI alone (HR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.04-2.34, p=0.032) but was not higher with PVI+lines. Benefit of substrate modification was conferred for pre-procedure times in AF of over 30 months. The occurrence of atrial tachycardia was higher when lines were added to the ablation strategy (HR 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01-0.59, p=0.014). Freedom from atrial arrhythmia at 1 year was higher with lower patient age, use of general anaesthetic (GA), normal or mildly dilated left atrium and decreasing time in AF.

Conclusion

In patients with very long standing persistent AF of over 30 months duration, CFAE ablation resulted in improved freedom from atrial arrhythmia. Increased freedom from atrial arrhythmia occurs in patients who are younger and have smaller atria, and with GA procedures. Linear ablation did not improve outcome and resulted in a higher incidence of atrial tachycardia.

Key Words : Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, Ablation, Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrgrams.

Correspondence to: Claire A Martin, Papworth Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Papworth Everard, Cambridge CB23 3RE, UK

Introduction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased mortality, congestive heart failure, and stroke. Catheter ablation (CA) has been established as a treatment option for patients with symptomatic, drug-refractory AF, with the best results obtained in patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF). In these patients, AF is usually related to the presence of triggers in the pulmonary veins; therefore, the generation of circumferential lesions around veins to electrically isolate themis the cornerstone treatment.

Results of CA in patients with persistent AF are less satisfactory[1]. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is still central; however, recurrent and chronic AF induces progressive electrical and tissue structural remodeling, thus making AF a self-perpetuating disease[2]. To interrupt this process, addition of a substrate based ablation approach has been proposed; the two most common techniques used are linear lesions in the left atrium (LA) and focal ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs).

Linear lesions applied on the left atria roof and on the mitral isthmus are intended to modify the arrhythmogenic LA substrate and atrial macro-re-entrant circuits involved in maintenance of AF. Several studies have reported that these improve the efficacy of the procedure[3],[4]; however, if the lines are not electrically continuous, atrial tachycardias may develop. CFAEs are thought to indicate sites of conduction slowing or block, wavefront collision or anchor points for reentrant circuits. Several groups have reported improved outcomes using this technique in addition to PVI[5],but an important limitation is that CFAEs are largely identified by visual inspection and therefore dependent on operator judgement.

The STAR AF trial[6] in high-burden paroxysmal/persistent AF, showed that PVI plus CFAE ablation had the highest freedom from AF vs. PVI or CFAE ablation alone after one or two procedures. However, STAR-II AF[7], this time in solely persistent AF patients, contradicted these results, finding no difference in freedom for AF at 1 year between PVI alone, PVI + lines or PVI + CFAE ablation strategies, a finding subsequently replicated by other studies[8]. There is little data to support similar outcomes in long standing persistent AF, ie that lasting over 1 year in duration.

The HRS/EHRA/ECAS Expert Consensus Statement on Catheter and Surgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation from 2007[9] states that ‘operators should consider more extensive ablation based on linear lesions or complex fractionated electrograms’ for ablation of persistent AF. However, in the light of recent evidence backing a PVI strategy alone[7], [10], we assessed the role of substrate modification in patients with long standing persistent AF. We also assessed the patient factors which could affect the outcome after ablation.

Material and methods

Study Design

This was an analysis of prospectively kept data of all cases of first catheter ablation for persistent AF ablation from the beginning of 2008 to the end of 2013 in a single large-volume centre. The study was approved by local ethics committee. Cases were excluded if they had had a previous ablation for either paroxysmal or persistent AF. All patients were over 18 years of age and all had symptomatic persistent AF (of over 7 days duration) refractory to at least one anti-arrhythmic agent. All patients were anticoagulatedfor at least 1 month pre-procedure and 3 months post-procedure, and given heparin to maintain an ACT of 300-350s during the procedure.

PVI was performed by a point-by-point technique using Carto (Biosense Webster) or Ensite NavX (St Jude Medical) guidance. The endpoint was PVI isolation confirmed by abolition of PV potentials. In patients undergoing substrate ablation, either linear ablation, CFAE ablation or both were undertaken using Carto or Ensite NavX guidance. Effective linear ablation was confirmed by bidirectional block across the roof of the LA and around the mitral valve isthmus tested by differential pacing techniques. CFAEs were defined as electrograms having a very short cycle length or fractionation composed of at least two deflections or perturbation of the baseline with continuous deflection of a prolonged activation complex [11]. CFAE detection was by visual inspection; automated software was not employed. CFAE ablation endpoint was the elimination of all CFAE sites identified in the LA and coronary sinus. Atrial tachycardiasthat occurred during the procedure were mapped and appropriate ablation performed. If the patients were in AF or an atrial tachycardia at the end of the procedure, they were cardioverted.

The strategy for ablation was operator based. The individual operators always followed a set strategy of either PVI only or PVI with substrate modification. The ablation strategy was not based on patient characteristics.

Data was collected of the patient demographics, of the ablation strategy and of the clinical outcome. Clinical assessments, 12 lead ECGs and and, if necessary, Holter or event monitors were obtained at baseline and at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after the ablation.

Study outcomes

The primary study outcome was freedom from any documented episode of atrial arrhythmia (AF,atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia) at 1 year, lasting longer than 30s, occurring after the performance of first ablation procedures, with or without the use of anti-arrhythmic medications.

Atrial arrhythmia within an initial 3 months blanking period after ablation was not counted, in accordance with the guidelines[9]. An episode of atrial arrhythmia was considered part of the primary outcome analyses if it lasted longer than 30 s and was documented by any form of monitoring, regardless of symptoms. Patients who completed fewer than 3 months of follow-up and thus did not complete the blanking period were excluded from end-point analysis. Main secondary outcomes included freedom from organised atrial arrhythmia (including atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia) after one ablation procedure and freedom from atrial arrhythmia without use of anti-arrhythmic medication.

Statistical Analysis

We estimated a sample size of 80 per arm would be needed to provide 80% power (p < 0.05, 1 sided) to detect a 50% change in the hazard ratio (HR) between groups, assuming a median freedom from atrial arrhythmia of 12 months and a follow-up of 18 months[12].

Continuous variables are presented as mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range) for non-parametric data, and categorical data as counts or percentages. Analysis and comparisons of continuous data were performed using ANOVA, whilst the χ2 test was used to compare categorical data. Survival was estimated using Kaplan Meier (KM) analyses. Cox proportional-hazards-models were used to explore univariate and multivariate predictors of events. Initial exploratory co-variates of age, gender, LA diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), presence of risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, stroke, vascular disease and congestive heart failure (CHF), CHA2DS2-VASc score, use of general anaesthesia (GA) vs conscious sedation, length of time in AF, and use of anti-arrhythmic drug post procedure were used. Multivariate models included terms with p-value of <0.1 at univariate analysis. A two-sided probability level of <0.05 was considered significant. All calculations were performed using SPSS 20.0 (IBM Software, USA).

Results

Patients

A total of 333 patients who had first ablations for persistent AF between 2008 and 2013 were identified. Of these 47 were excluded from the study because of: a lack of information regarding their procedure or follow-up (19), the procedure being abandoned before any ablation took place (5), the patients not in fact having the procedure they were labelled as having (6), the patients having had a prior PAF ablation (17).

Out of the 286 included patients, 79 had PVI alone, 85 had PVI plus lines, 15 had PVI plus CFAEs and 107 had PVI plus lines plus CFAEs. Lines included a roof line in all patients andan additional mitral isthmus line in 91 out of 192 (47%). Due to the relatively small number of patients undergoing PVI plus CFAEs, this group was excluded from further analysis as comparisons would not be statistically useful. Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between groups except LA diameter (χ2 = 0.034) ([Table 1]), where the proportion of patients with a severely dilated LA was higher in the those receiving PVI + CFAEs + lines than in the other groups.

A follow-up period of up to 18 months was examined. All patients had clinical assessment and 12 lead ECGs performed at each clinic visit. If there was no documentation of atrial arrhythmia but the patient described any symptoms of palpitations, SOB or fatigue which might be attributable to a recurrence of AF or to an organised atrial arrhythmia, they underwent Holter monitoring or event monitoring to achieve ECG documentation of a symptomatic episode. In total, 63 patients (22%) underwent Holter monitoring, 14 at 3 months, 31 at 6 months, 13 at 12 months and 11 at 18 months (some patients had Holter monitoring on more than one occasion). In 3 patients, Holter monitoring failed to capture a symptomatic episode, and they therefore underwent event monitoring. There were no significant differences between ablation strategy groups in the proportion of patients undergoing Holter/event monitoring (PVI only: n = 15 (19%), PVI+lines: n = 20 (24%), PVI+CFAEs+lines: n = 28 (26%)).

Table 1. Characteristics of patients included in the study. Plus–minus values are means ±SD.For non-parametric data, median (interquartile range) is given.
PVI alone PVI + Lines PVI + Lines + CFAEs
Characteristic Number 79 85 107
Age - yr 59 +/- 9 59 +/- 10 59 +/- 9
Male sex - no (%) 60 (76) 71 (84) 95
Procedure time - min 176 +/- 38 186 +/- 37 191 +/- 39
Fluoroscopy time - min 39 +/- 19 41 +/- 25 36 +/- 24
Ablation time - s 2015 +/- 1333 2716 +/- 1224 2771 +/- 1446
GA - no (%) 12 (15) 9 (11) 17 (16)
Time in persistent AF - months 30 +/- 27 27 +/- 26 28 +/- 29
Medical history - no (%) Hypertension 31 (39) 33 (39) 34 (32)
Diabetes 1 (1) 8 (9) 9 (8)
Vascular disease 9 (11) 14 (16) 9 (8)
Stroke/TIA 3 (4) 7 (8) 9 (8)
Heart failure 9 (11) 5 (6) 9 (8)
CHA2DS2-VASc score - n (%) 0 35 (44) 30 (35) 48 (45)
1 29 (37) 24 (28) 29 (27)
2 11 (14) 19 (22) 16 (15)
>2 4 (5) 12 (15) 14 (13)
Baseline medications - n (%) Beta-blocker 34 (43) 41 (48) 39 (36)
Ca channel blocker 7 (9) 5 (6) 8 (7)
Flecainide 23 (29) 19 (22) 23 (21)
Amiodarone 16 (20) 14 (16) 14 (13)
Dronedarone 2 (3) 0 (0) 2 (2)
Sotolol 7 (9) 8 (9) 16 (15)
Flecainide 23 (29) 19 (22) 23 (21)
LA diameter - n (%) normal 45 (57) 41 (48) 51 (48)
mildly dilated 21 (27) 26 (31) 30 (28)
moderately dilated 11 (14) 16 (19) 13 (12)
severely dilated 2 (3) 2 (2) 13 (12)*
EF - n (%) normal 62 (79) 59 (69) 76 (71)
mildly impaired 10 (13) 11 (13) 16 (15)
moderately impaired 4 (5) 11 (13) 10 (9)
severely impaired 3 (4) 4 (5) 5 (5)

* denotes significant difference between groups (see main text).

Primary outcome

At 12 months, freedom from any atrial arrhythmia (AF, atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia) lasting longer than 30s after one ablation procedure, with or without the use of anti-arrhythmic medications, was present in 29% of patients who underwent pulmonary vein isolation alone, 38% who underwent isolation plus lines, and 46% who underwent isolation plus lines plus CFAEs[Table 2].

In the 174 patients with recurrence of atrial arrhythmia, 51 were diagnosed through Holter/event monitoring (PVI only: n = 17 of 52 (33%), PVI+lines: n = 13 of 56 (23%), PVI+CFAEs+lines: n = 21 of 66 (32%)), and the remainder through a 12 lead ECG undertaken in clinic or by the patient’s family doctor.

There was no difference in freedom from atrial arrhythmia between PVI alone vs PVI plus lines (p = 0.879). The freedom from atrial arrhythmia was higher with a PVI plus CFAE plus lines strategy then for a PVI plus lines strategy (HR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.25, p = 0.043) or PVI alone (HR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.04 to 2.34, p = 0.032) ([Figure 1]).

Figure 1. Kaplan Meier survival curves depicting freedom from atrial arrhythmia recurrence after one ablation procedure.



Secondary outcomes

The freedom from atrial flutter or regular atrial tachycardia was lower with a PVI plus lines strategy (HR 0.080, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.59, p = 0.014) or a PVI plus lines plus CFAEs strategy (HR 0.078, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.59, p = 0.013) than for PVI alone [Table 2]; [Figure 2].There was no difference in outcome between PVI + Lines vs PVI + CFAE + Lines (HR 0.97, 95% CI: 0.49 to 2.02, p = 0.941).

Table 2. Outcome as a function of type of procedure.
PVI alone (n = 79) PVI + Lines (n = 85) PVI + Lines + CFAEs (n = 107)
Freedom from any atrial arrhythmia at 1 yr (%) 27 (29) 29 (38) 41 (46)
Freedom from atrial flutter or tachycardia at 1 yr (%) 67 (97) 61 (84) 75 (83)



Figure 2. Kaplan Meier survival curves depicting freedom from occurrence of organised atrial arrhythmia (atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia) after one ablation procedure for persistent AF.



Adverse events

1 groin haematoma occurred in patients undergoing PVI only; 1 tamponade and 1 stroke occurred in patients undergoing a PVI plus lines strategy; and 2 tamponades, 1 stroke, 1 groin haematoma and 1 reactive pericardial effusion occurred in patients undergoing a PVI + CFAEs + lines strategy. There were a further 5 cases that were hindered by problems with sedation, with patients becoming agitated or with uncontrolled pain; these were split between PVI alone (2), PVI plus lines (1) and PVI plus CFAEs (2).

Subgroup analysis

Freedom from any atrial arrhythmia and freedom from atrial flutter or tachycardia was analysed stratified by age, gender, whether GA was used, presence of risk factors including stroke, diabetes, CHF, hypertension and PVD, CHA2DS2-VASc score, LA diameter, EF, time in AF, and whether an anti-arrhythmic (amiodarone, dronedarone, flecainide or sotolol) was used post procedure.

Univariate Cox regression analysis found the following factors to decrease likelihood of freedom from atrial arrhythmia at the p < 0.1 level ([Table 3]):increasing age, use of conscious sedation over GA, moderately or severely dilated LA, increasing time in AF pre-procedure and no use of an antiarrhythmic drug post procedure. In multivariate analysis, there was lower freedom from atrial arrhythmia with a PVI alone strategy than for PVI plus CFAE plus lines, as well as for increasing age, use of conscious sedation over GA, moderately or severely dilated LA and increasing time in AF pre-procedure.

In univariate analysis the following factors decreased the likelihood of freedom from atrial flutter or tachycardia occurring post AF ablation at the p < 0.1 level ([Table 4]): use of conscious sedation over GA, presence of hypertension and CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥2. In multivariate analysis, the freedom from atrial flutter or tachycardia was lower for PVI plus lines or PVI plus lines plus CFAEs than with a PVI only strategy than, as well as for use of conscious sedation over GA.

The time in AF pre-procedure was greater in our patients (median = 18, interquartile range = 25 months) than in most studies examining catheter ablation of persistent AF [7]. In order to examine this more closely, KM curves were generated stratified into patients with persistent AF for over 30 months (n = 112), vs the rest. This demonstrated that there was no significant benefit in additional ablation techniques over PVI isolation in those who had AF for under 30 months (p = 0.295). However, the benefit in PVI + CFAE + lines ablation persisted for those for had had AF for over 30 months pre-procedure HR = 1.82, 95% CI 1.00 to 3.33, p = 0.041) ([Figure 3]).

Table 3. Factors influencing freedom from atrial arrhythmia at 1 year.Bold text denotes significant difference between groups (see main text)
Univariate Multivariate
Predictors HR 95% CI p-value HR 95% CI p-value
Age /year 0.983 0.996 - 1.000 0.051 0.960 0.96 - 0.99 0.012
Gender - male 0.797 0.542 - 1.173 0.250
Normal/mildly dilated LA 1.460 1.017 - 2.083 0.033 1.510 1.020 – 2.273 0.041
Normal LV function 1.170 0.851 – 1.608 0.334
Hypertension 1.054 0.683 - 1.32 0.756
Diabetes 0.884 0.577 - 2.218 0.721
Stroke 0.706 0.663 - 3.024 0.366
Vascular disease 0.604 0.540 - 3.704 0.386
CHF 1.302 0.451 - 1.31 0.333
CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 0.807 0.559 – 1.166 0.254
Use of GA 1.721 0.378 – 0.892 0.013 1.600 1.01 - 2.55 0.048
Length of time in AF/months 0.995 0.999 - 1.011 0.086 0.995 0.990 - 1.000 0.041
Anti-arrhythmic post-procedure 1.039 0.994 – 1.086 0.091 1.287 0.814 – 2.033 0.280
PVI+lines vs PVI only 1.031 0.693 – 1.443 0.879
PVI+CFAE+lines vs PVI only 1.558 1.038 – 2.336 0.032 1.610 1.04 - 2.49 0.022
PVI+CFAE+lines vs PVI+lines 1.508 1.012 – 2.247 0.043 1.374 0.881 – 2.141 0.161



Table 4. Factors influencing freedom from atrial flutter or tachycardia at 1 year. Bold text denotes significant difference between groups (see main text)
Univariate Multivariate
Predictors HR 95% CI p-value HR 95% CI p-value
Age /year 0.980 0.942 – 1.021 0.348
Gender - male 0.622 0.218 - 1.779 0.372
Normal/mildly dilated LA 1.018 0.439 – 2.364 0.967
Normal LV function 1.248 0.615 – 2.351 0.540
Hypertension 0.439 0.216 - 0.891 0.023 0.634 0.222 – 1.812 0.395
Diabetes 0.452 0.158 – 1.292 0.139
Stroke 0.997 0.238 - 4.177 0.996
Vascular disease 0.844 0.633 – 2.143 0.886
CHF 0.819 0.249 - 2.693 0.741
CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 0.314 0.155 – 0.635 0.001 0.571 0.150 - 2.169 0.410
Use of GA 2.268 1.101 – 4.673 0.026 3.125 1.076 – 9.091 0.036
Length of time in AF/months 1.000 0.987 - 1.014 0.915
Anti-arrhythmic post-procedure 1.139 0.558 - 2.325 0.720
PVI+lines vs PVI only 0.077 0.010 – 0.592 0.014 0.160 0.340 - 0.710 0.016
PVI+CFAE+lines vs PVI only 0.078 0.010 – 0.587 0.013 0.074 0.010 – 0.562 0.012
PVI+CFAE+lines vs PVI+lines 0.973 0.486 – 2.022 0.941



Figure 3. Kaplan Meier survival curves depicting freedom from atrial arrhythmia after one ablation procedure in patients with persistent AF lasting over 30 months before their procedure.



Discussion

This is an observational study of persistent AF ablation in a single large-volume centre. The majority of patients had long standing persistent AF (ie persistent AF for > 1 year) by the time they came for ablation. Freedom from atrial arrhythmia was higher with a PVI plus CFAE plus lines strategy than for a PVI plus lines strategy or PVI alone. Furthermore, there was no difference in freedom from atrial arrhythmia between PVI alone vs PVI plus lines. These results suggest a possible role for CFAE ablation in addition to PVI but not linear ablation. On sub-analysis, this effect was only significant for patients that had been in AF for over 30 months.

It is interesting that these results contradict those of Star-II AF and some recent studies [7], [8], [13]. The reason is likely to lie in the differing demographic of the patient population, especially the duration of AF prior to the ablation. In the Star-II AF trial, only 70-80% were in persistent AF for over 6 months, and for those not in constant AF for over 6 months the AF burden at baseline was relatively low at 80-85 hours/month. 95% of the patients in our study had been in persistent AF for over 6 months, and the median duration of persistent AF was 18 months. AF is perpetuated by electro anatomic remodeling which develops as AF progresses over time. This may involve atrial dilatation, interstitial fibrosis, uncoupling and loss of myofibrils, deposition of extracellular matrix, loss of gap junctions, and resultant anisotropy and conduction slowing and block and refractory period heterogeneity. Therefore patients with long standing persistent AF, abnormal substrate may have a stronger role to play in AF maintenance than simple triggers targeted primarily by PVI, and a substrate based approach may be beneficial.

Our study also demonstrated that the addition of linear ablation results in a higher propensity to post-procedure organised atrial arrhythmias. The incidence of post-procedure atrial flutter or tachycardia was not significantly worse with CFAE ablation plus lines plus PVI over PVI plus lines.

We have demonstrated worse outcomes in terms of freedom from AF with increasing age, duration of persistent AF and LA size. There is a lack of randomized control trials focusing on the elderly group to measure the outcomes of catheter ablation. Single centre studies mostly examining PAF ablation have not demonstrated a significant difference in outcome with age [14], [15], aalthough a higher percentage of patients required anti-arrhythmic drugs to maintain sinus rhythm[15]. It is recognised that diastolic LV dysfunction, a condition that is well-linked with aging, leads to increased atrial filling pressures and wall stretch, ultimately associated with atrial fibrosis and remodeling, which make AF more likely to persist[16].Our study suggests that elderly patients with long standing persistent AF are less likely to gain benefit.

It has been recognised for some time that increased LA size is a predictor for AF recurrence[17].Specifically, our study would suggest that targeting ablation for patients with normal or mildly dilated LAs would be more effective. We did not find any significant deterioration in outcome with increasing co-morbidities or CHA2DS2-VASc score.

Initially there was benefit from the addition of an anti-arrhythmic drug post-procedure, but this did not confer long term benefit. Previous studies in paroxysmal AF have suggested the addition of anti-arrhythmics are beneficial in the first weeks following ablation but have failed to demonstrate long term benefit[18], [19].

We found that outcome of ablation is improved if the procedure had been conducted under GA rather than conscious sedation. There is emerging evidence that GA may improveoutcome, whilst reducing fluoroscopy and procedure times [20]. This may be due to patient immobility, improved accuracy of mapping, and catheter stability, allowing better contact between the catheter and the endocardium and optimizing lesion quality. There has been concern that atrio-oesophageal fistula may be more common when the procedure is performed under GA[21]; no instances occurred in our study in either group.

The adverse event rate for our study overall is similar to others [7]. With the small number of complications, no statistically significant results can be drawn; however, there were a greater number of adverse events in the patients undergoing substrate modification in addition to PVI. It is unlikely that the groin haematomas are linked to ablation strategy. The tamponades did not require surgery and therefore it is difficult to ascertain whether they occurred secondary to the transseptal puncture or later ablation. Substrate modification techniques did require longer ablation times than PVI only, although these did not reach statistical significance, but this could lead to higher risks of complications related to the ablation itself, such as stroke and potentially also tamponade.

The main limitations of this study lie in it being a retrospective analysis. Ablation technique was operator dependent, where some operators preferentially did only PVI and others did additional substrate modification as their standard index procedure. Furthermore, patients in the PVI+lines group did not have a uniform method of ablation, with a mitral isthmus line done in around half the patients. Ablation strategy however, was not based therefore on individual patient factors. There was insufficient number of patients in the PVI + CFAE arm to provide adequate power for analysis of the group in a meaningful way to the other groups. In some areas it would have been useful to have more robust data collection, for example on adverse events, particularly for vascular access complications. Only 22% of the study population underwent long term ECG monitoring, and continuous monitoring was not employed to monitor for asymptomatic arrhythmia. Furthermore, it would have been useful to gather Quality of Life information from patients undergoing AF ablation to better analyse the impact of ablation of the patient. These results are nonetheless hypothesis generating and may warrant a randomized trial for patients with more long-standing arrhythmia.

Conclusion

Based on our findings, and bearing in mind the increased risk of ablation related complications and slightly higher incidence of post procedure regular atrial tachycardia and atrial flutter, we would suggest consideration of the addition of CFAE ablation to PVI in patients with long standing persistent AF, and especially in those with persistent AF for over 30 months. We have not demonstrated any benefit in linear ablation over PVI alone, and linear ablation resulted in a higher incidence of organised atrial arrhythmia. In selecting patients who might derive most benefit from persistent AF ablation, we would suggest selecting those who are younger and with smaller LA. We would recommend the use of GA over conscious sedation. In our region, there is a significant time from onset of AF to ablation. This is due to a variety of factors, which could be potentially reduced by educating patients so that a diagnosis is reached quicker, direct referral to electro physiologists, and reducing clinic and procedure waiting times.

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