2,009
Views
36
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Review

Persistent atrial fibrillation vs paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: differences in management

&
Pages 601-618 | Received 03 May 2017, Accepted 11 Jul 2017, Published online: 31 Jul 2017

References

  • Zoni-Berisso M, Lercari F, Carazza T, et al. Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: European perspective. Clin Epidemiol. 2014;6:213–220.
  • Kirchhof P, Benussi S, Kotecha D, et al. 2016 ESC guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS. Eur Heart J. 2016;37:2893–2962.
  • January CT, Wann LS, Alpert JS, et al.; American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64(21):e1–76. Erratum in: J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64:2305-7.
  • Simantirakis EN, Papakonstantinou PE, Chlouverakis GI, et al. Asymptomatic versus symptomatic episodes in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation via long-term monitoring with implantable loop recorders. Int J Cardiol. 2017;231:125–130.
  • Padfield GJ, Steinberg C, Swampillai J, et al. Progression of paroxysmal to persistent atrial fibrillation: Canadian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation 10-year follow-up. Heart Rhythm. 2017;14(6):801–807.
  • Xiong Q, Proietti M, Senoo K, et al. Asymptomatic versus symptomatic atrial fibrillation: a systematic review of age/gender differences and cardiovascular outcomes. Int J Cardiol. 2015;191:172–177.
  • Valderrábano M. Atrial fibrillation: the mother rotor and its rebellious offspring take turns sustaining the family. Heart Rhythm. 2009;6:1018–1019.
  • Moe GK, Rheinboldt WC, Abildskov JA. A computer model of atrial fibrillation. Am Heart J. 1964;67:200–220.
  • Jalife J, Berenfeld O, Mansour M. Mother rotors and fibrillatory conduction: a mechanism of atrial fibrillation. Cardiovasc Res. 2002;54:204–216.
  • Arora R, Verheule S, Scott L, et al. Arrhythmogenic substrate of the pulmonary veins assessed by high-resolution optical mapping. Circulation. 2003;107:1816–1821.
  • de Groot NM, Houben RP, Smeets JL, et al. Electropathological substrate of longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation in patients with structural heart disease: epicardial breakthrough. Circulation. 2010;122:1674–1682.
  • Allessie M, de Groot N. CrossTalk opposing view: rotors have not been demonstrated to be the drivers of atrial fibrillation. J Physiol. 2014;592:3167–3170.
  • Narayan SM, Jalife J. CrossTalk proposal: rotors have been demonstrated to drive human atrial fibrillation. J Physiol. 2014;592:3163–3166.
  • Berenfeld O, Jalife J. Mechanisms of atrial fibrillation: rotors, ionic determinants, and excitation frequency. Heart Fail Clin. 2016;12:167–178.
  • Pandit SV, Jalife J. Rotors and the dynamics of cardiac fibrillation. Circ Res. 2013;112:849–862.
  • Pison L, Tilz R, Jalife J, et al. Pulmonary vein triggers, focal sources, rotors and atrial cardiomyopathy: implications for the choice of the most effective ablation therapy. J Intern Med. 2016;279:449–456.
  • Weiss JN, Qu Z, Shivkumar K. Ablating atrial fibrillation: a translational science perspective for clinicians. Heart Rhythm. 2016;13:1868–1877.
  • Pontecorboli G, Figueras I, Ventura RM, et al. Use of delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging for fibrosis detection in the atria: a review. Europace. 2017;19:180–189.
  • Haïssaguerre M, Jaïs P, Shah DC, et al. Spontaneous initiation of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats originating in the pulmonary veins. N Engl J Med. 1998;339:659–666.
  • Lin WS, Tai CT, Hsieh MH, et al. Catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation initiated by non-pulmonary vein ectopy. Circulation. 2003;107:3176–3183.
  • Wu TJ, Ong JJ, Chang CM, et al. Pulmonary veins and ligament of Marshall as sources of rapid activations in a canine model of sustained atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2001;103:1157–1163.
  • Allessie MA1, Boyden PA, Camm AJ, et al. Pathophysiology and prevention of atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2001;103:769–777.
  • Schoonderwoerd BA, Van Gelder IC, Van Veldhuisen DJ, et al. Electrical and structural remodeling: role in the genesis and maintenance of atrial fibrillation. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2005;48:153–168.
  • Hansen BJ, Zhao J, Csepe TA, et al. Atrial fibrillation driven by micro-anatomic intramural re-entry revealed by simultaneous sub-epicardial and sub-endocardial optical mapping in explanted human hearts. Eur Heart J. 2015;36:2390–2401.
  • Link MS, Haïssaguerre M, Natale A. Ablation of atrial fibrillation: patient selection, periprocedural anticoagulation, techniques, and preventive measures after ablation. Circulation. 2016;134:339–352.
  • Piccini JP, Fauchier L. Rhythm control in atrial fibrillation. Lancet. 2016;388:829–840.
  • Van Gelder IC, Rienstra M, Crijns HJ, et al. Rate control in atrial fibrillation. Lancet. 2016;388:818–828.
  • Nguyen T, Jolly U, Sidhu K, et al. Atrial fibrillation management: evaluating rate vs rhythm control. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2016;14:713–724.
  • Hart RG, Pearce LA, Rothbart RM, et al. Stroke with intermittent atrial fibrillation: incidence and predictors during aspirin therapy. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2000;35:183–187.
  • Link MS, Giugliano RP, Ruff CT, et al.; ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 Investigators. Stroke and mortality risk in patients with various patterns of atrial fibrillation: results from the ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 trial (effective anticoagulation with factor xa next generation in atrial fibrillation-thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 48). Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2017;10:pii: e004267.
  • Hohnloser SH, Kuck KH, Lilienthal J. Rhythm or rate control in atrial fibrillation – Pharmacological Intervention in Atrial Fibrillation (PIAF): a randomized trial. Lancet. 2000;356:1789–1794.
  • Brignole M, Menozzi C, Gasparini M, et al.; PAF 2 Study Investigators. An evaluation of the strategy of maintenance of sinus rhythm by antiarrhythmic drug therapy after ablation and pacing therapy in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Eur Heart J. 2002;23:892–900.
  • Van Gelder IC, Hagens VE, Bosker HA, et al.; Rate Control versus Electrical Cardioversion for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Study Group. A comparison of rate control and rhythm control in patients with recurrent persistent atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:1834–1840.
  • Wyse DG, Waldo AL, DiMarco JP, et al.; Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) Investigators. A comparison of rate control and rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:1825–1833.
  • Carlsson J, Miketic S, Windeler J, et al.; STAF Investigators. Randomized trial of rate-control versus rhythm-control in persistent atrial fibrillation: the Strategies of Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (STAF) study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2003;41:1690–1696.
  • Okcun B, Yigit Z, Arat A, et al. Comparison of rate and rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation and nonischemic heart failure. Jpn Heart J. 2004;45:591–601.
  • Opolski G, Torbicki A, Kosior DA, et al.; Investigators of the Polish How to Treat Chronic Atrial Fibrillation Study. Rate control vs rhythm control in patients with nonvalvular persistent atrial fibrillation: the results of the polish how to treat chronic atrial fibrillation (HOT CAFE) study. Chest. 2004;126:476–486.
  • Vora A, Karnad D, Goyal V, et al. Control of heart rate versus rhythm in rheumatic atrial fibrillation: a randomized study. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2004;9:65–73.
  • Petrac D, Radic B, Radeljic V, et al. Ventricular pacing vs dual chamber pacing in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation after atrioventricular node ablation: open randomized study. Croat Med J. 2005;46:922–928.
  • Khan MN, Jaıs P, Cummings J, et al.; PABA-CHF Investigators. Pulmonary-vein isolation for atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:1778–1785.
  • Yildiz A, Yigit Z, Okcun B, et al. Comparison of rate and rhythm control in hypertension patients with atrial fibrillation. Circ J. 2008;72:705–708.
  • Shelton RJ, Clark AL, Goode K, et al. A randomised, controlled study of rate versus rhythm control in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation and heart failure: (CAFE-II Study). Heart. 2009;95:924–930.
  • Talajic M, Khairy P, Levesque S, et al.; AF-CHF Investigators. Maintenance of sinus rhythm and survival in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010;55:1796–1802.
  • MacDonald MR, Connelly DT, Hawkins NM, et al. Radiofrequency ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation in patients with advanced heart failure and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction: a randomised controlled trial. Heart. 2011;97:740–747.
  • Jones DG, Haldar SK, Hussain W, et al. A randomized trial to assess catheter ablation versus rate control in the management of persistent atrial fibrillation in heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;61:1894–1903.
  • Suman-Horduna I, Roy D, Frasure-Smith N, et al.; AF-CHF Trial Investigators. Quality of life and functional capacity in patients with atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;61:455–460.
  • Hunter RJ, Berriman TJ, Diab I, et al. A randomized controlled trial of catheter ablation versus medical treatment of atrial fibrillation in heart failure (the CAMTAF trial). Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2014;7:31–38.
  • Al-Khatib SM, Allen LaPointe NM, Chatterjee R, et al. Rate- and rhythm-control therapies in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2014;160:760–773.
  • Zhu M, Zhou X, Cai H, et al. Catheter ablation versus medical rate control for persistent atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure: a PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e4377.
  • Packer DL, Kowal RC, Wheelan KR, et al. Cryoballoon ablation of pulmonary veins for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: first results of the North American Arctic Front (STOP AF) pivotal trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;61:1713–1723.
  • Purmah Y, Proietti M, Laroche C, et al.; EORP-AF General Pilot Registry Investigators. Rate vs. rhythm control and adverse outcomes among European patients with atrial fibrillation. Europace. 2017 Feb 4. doi: 10.1093/europace/euw421. [Epub ahead of print].
  • Kirchhof P, Breithardt G, Camm AJ, et al. Improving outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation: rationale and design of the early treatment of atrial fibrillation for stroke prevention trial. Am Heart J. 2013;166:442–448.
  • ClinicalTrials.gov. Catheter ablation vs anti-arrhythmic drug therapy for atrial fibrillation trial (CABANA). [cited 2017 May 5]. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00911508
  • Kerr AJ, Williams MJ, Stewart RA. Ventricular rate and beat-to-beat variation of stroke volume in atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol. 2001;87:1116–1119.
  • Ellis ER, Josephson ME. Heart failure and tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy. Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2013;10:296–306.
  • Kotecha D, Holmes J, Krum H, et al.; Beta-Blockers in Heart Failure Collaborative Group. Efficacy of beta blockers in patients with heart failure plus atrial fibrillation: an individual-patient data meta-analysis. Lancet. 2014;384:2235–2243.
  • Ulimoen SR, Enger S, Pripp AH, et al. Calcium channel blockers improve exercise capacity and reduce N-terminal Pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels compared with beta-blockers in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation. Eur Heart J. 2014;35:517–524.
  • Whitbeck MG, Charnigo RJ, Khairy P, et al. Increased mortality among patients taking digoxin – analysis from the AFFIRM study. Eur Heart J. 2013;34:1481–1488.
  • Ziff OJ, Lane DA, Samra M, et al. Safety and efficacy of digoxin: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational and controlled trial data. BMJ. 2015;351:h4451.
  • Centurión OA, Shimizu A, Isomoto S, et al. Mechanisms for the genesis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in the Wolff Parkinson-White syndrome: intrinsic atrial muscle vulnerability vs. electrophysiological properties of the accessory pathway. Europace. 2008;10:294–302.
  • Ponikowski P, Voors AA, Anker SD, et al. Authors/Task Force Members. 2016 ESC guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure: the task force for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) developed with the special contribution of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC. Eur Heart J. 2016;37:2129–2200.
  • Jackson LR 2nd, Rathakrishnan B, Campbell K, et al. Sinus node dysfunction and atrial fibrillation: a reversible phenomenon? Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2017;40:442–450.
  • Gonna H, Gallagher MM. The efficacy and tolerability of commonly used agents to prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation after successful cardioversion. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2014;14:241–251.
  • Lafuente-Lafuente C, Valembois L, Bergmann JF, et al. Antiarrhythmics for maintaining sinus rhythm after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;3:Art. No.: CD005049.
  • Singh BN, Singh SN, Reda DJ, et al.; Sotalol Amiodarone Atrial Fibrillation Efficacy Trial (SAFE-T) Investigators. Amiodarone versus sotalol for atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2005;352:1861–1872.
  • Krittayaphong R, Raungrattanaamporn O, Bhuripanyo K, et al. A randomized clinical trial of the efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation and amiodarone in the treatment of symptomatic atrial fibrillation. J Med Assoc Thai. 2003;86:S8–16.
  • Wazni OM, Marrouche NF, Martin DO, et al. Radiofrequency ablation vs antiarrhythmic drugs as first-line treatment of symptomatic atrial fibrillation: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2005;293:2634–2640.
  • Pappone C, Augello G, Sala S, et al. A randomized trial of circumferential pulmonary vein ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: the APAF study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006;48:2340–2347.
  • Stabile G, Bertaglia E, Senatore G, et al. Catheter ablation treatment in patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation: a prospective, multi-centre, randomized, controlled study (catheter ablation for the cure of atrial fibrillation study). Eur Heart J. 2006;27:216–221.
  • Oral H, Pappone C, Chugh A, et al. Circumferential pulmonary-vein ablation for chronic atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:934–941.
  • Jais P, Cauchemez B, Macle L, et al. Catheter ablation versus antiarrhythmic drugs for atrial fibrillation: the A4 study. Circulation. 2008;118:2498–2505.
  • Forleo GB, Mantica M, De Luca L, et al. Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2: results from a randomized study comparing pulmonary vein isolation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2009;20:22–28.
  • Wilber DJ, Pappone C, Neuzil P, et al. Comparison of antiarrhythmic drug therapy and radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2010;303:333–340.
  • Cosedis Nielsen J, Johannessen A, Raatikainen P, et al. Radiofrequency ablation as initial therapy in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2012;367:1587–1595.
  • Mont L, Bisbal F, Hernandez-Madrid A, et al. Catheter ablation vs. antiarrhythmic drug treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation: a multicentre, randomized, controlled trial (SARA study). Eur Heart J. 2014;35:501–507.
  • Morillo CA, Verma A, Connolly SJ, et al. Radiofrequency ablation vs antiarrhythmic drugs as first-line treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (RAAFT-2): a randomized trial. JAMA. 2014;311:692–700.
  • Di Biase L, Mohanty P, Mohanty S, et al. Ablation versus amiodarone for treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation in patients with congestive heart failure and an implanted device: results from the AATAC multicenter randomized trial. Circulation. 2016;133:1637–1644.
  • Natale A, Reddy VY, Monir G, et al. Paroxysmal AF catheter ablation with a contact force sensing catheter: results of the prospective, multicenter SMART-AF trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64:647–656.
  • Schmidt M, Dorwarth U, Andresen D, et al. German ablation registry: cryoballoon vs radiofrequency ablation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: one-year outcome data. Heart Rhythm. 2016;13:836–844.
  • Luik A, Radzewitz A, Kieser M, et al. Cryoballoon versus open irrigated radiofrequency ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: the prospective, randomized, controlled, noninferiority FreezeAF study. Circulation. 2015;132:1311–1319.
  • Kuck KH, Brugada J, Fürnkranz A, et al.; FIRE AND ICE Investigators. Cryoballoon or radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2016;374:2235–2245.
  • Pappone C, Rosanio S, Oreto G, et al. Circumferential radiofrequency ablation of pulmonary vein ostia: a new anatomic approach for curing atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2000;102:2619–2628.
  • Pappone C, Santinelli V. Segmental pulmonary vein isolation versus the circumferential approach: is the tide turning? Heart Rhythm. 2004;1:326–328.
  • Weerasooriya R, Khairy P, Litalien J, et al. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: are results maintained at 5 years of follow-up? J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;57:160–166.
  • Sauer WH, McKernan ML, Lin D, et al. Clinical predictors and outcomes associated with acute return of pulmonary vein conduction during pulmonary vein isolation for treatment of atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm. 2006;3:1024–1028.
  • Kuck KH, Hoffmann BA, Ernst S, et al. Gap-AF–AFNET 1. Impact of complete versus incomplete circumferential lines around the pulmonary veins during catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: results from the gap-atrial fibrillation-German Atrial Fibrillation Competence Network 1 trial. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2016;9:e003337.
  • Nyong J, Amit G, Adler AJ, et al. Efficacy and safety of ablation for people with non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;22:CD012088.
  • Willems S, Klemm H, Rostock T, et al. Substrate modification combined with pulmonary vein isolation improves outcome of catheter ablation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation: a prospective randomized comparison. Eur Heart J. 2006;27:2871–2878.
  • Wang YL, Liu X, Tan HW, et al. Evaluation of linear lesions in the left and right atrium in ablation of long-standing atrial fibrillation. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2013;36:1202–1210.
  • Han SW, Shin SY, Im SI, et al. Does the amount of atrial mass reduction improve clinical outcomes after radiofrequency catheter ablation for long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation? Comparison between linear ablation and defragmentation. Int J Cardiol. 2014;171:37–43.
  • Wazni O, Marrouche NF, Martin DO, et al. Randomized study comparing combined pulmonary vein-left atrial junction disconnection and cavotricuspid isthmus ablation versus pulmonary vein-left atrial junction disconnection alone in patients presenting with typical atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2003;108:2479–2483.
  • Mohanty S, Mohanty P, Di Biase L, et al. Results from a singleblind, randomized study comparing the impact of different ablation approaches on long-term procedure outcome in coexistent atrial fibrillation and flutter (APPROVAL). Circulation. 2013;127:1853–1860.
  • Bai R, Di Biase L, Mohanty P, et al. Ablation of perimitral flutter following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: impact on outcomes from a randomized study (PROPOSE). J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2012;23:137–144.
  • Tamborero D, Mont L, Berruezo A, et al. Left atrial posterior wall isolation does not improve the outcome of circumferential pulmonary vein ablation for atrial fibrillation: a prospective randomized study. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2009;2:35–40.
  • Arbelo E, Guiu E, Ramos P, et al. Benefit of left atrial roof linear ablation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a prospective, randomized study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2014;3:e000877.
  • Vogler J, Willems S, Sultan A, et al. Pulmonary vein isolation versus defragmentation: the CHASE-AF clinical trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2015;66:2743–2752.
  • Wynn GJ, Panikker S, Morgan M, et al. Biatrial linear ablation in sustained nonpermanent AF: results of the substrate modification with ablation and antiarrhythmic drugs in nonpermanent atrial fibrillation (SMAN-PAF) trial. Heart Rhythm. 2016;13:399–406.
  • Verma A, Macle L, Sanders P. Catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2015;373:878–879.
  • Narayan SM, Krummen DE, Shivkumar K, et al. Treatment of atrial fibrillation by the ablation of localized sources: CONFIRM (conventional ablation for atrial fibrillation with or without focal impulse and rotor modulation) trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012;60:628–636.
  • Narayan SM, Baykaner T, Clopton P, et al. Ablation of rotor and focal sources reduces late recurrence of atrial fibrillation compared with trigger ablation alone: extended follow-up of the CONFIRM trial (conventional ablation for atrial fibrillation with or without focal impulse and rotor modulation). J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;63:1761–1768.
  • Haissaguerre M, Hocini M, Denis A, et al. Driver domains in persistent atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2014;130:530–538.
  • Shah A, Hocini M, Haissaguerre M, et al. Non-invasive mapping of cardiac arrhythmias. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2015;17:60.
  • Haissaguerre M, Hocini M, Shah AJ, et al. Noninvasive panoramic mapping of human atrial fibrillation mechanisms: a feasibility report. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2013;24:711–717.
  • Lim HS, Hocini M, Dubois R, et al. Complexity and distribution of drivers in relation to duration of persistent atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;69:1257–1269.
  • Knecht S, Sohal M, Deisenhofer I, et al. Multicentre evaluation of non-invasive biatrial mapping for persistent atrial fibrillation ablation: the AFACART study. Europace. 2017 Feb 15. doi: 10.1093/europace/euw168. [Epub ahead of print].
  • Corrado A, Bonso A, Madalosso M, et al. Impact of systematic isolation of superior vena cava in addition to pulmonary vein antrum isolation on the outcome of paroxysmal, persistent, and permanent atrial fibrillation ablation: results from a randomized study. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2010;21:1–5.
  • Chang HY, Lo LW, Lin YJ, et al. Long-term outcome of catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation originating from nonpulmonary vein ectopy. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2013;24:250–258.
  • Di Biase L, Burkhardt JD, Mohanty P, et al. Left atrial appendage: an underrecognized trigger site of atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2010;122:109–118.
  • Di Biase L, Burkhardt JD, Mohanty P, et al. Left atrial appendage isolation in patients with longstanding persistent AF undergoing catheter ablation: BELIEF trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016;68:1929–1940.
  • Yorgun H, Canpolat U, Kocyigit D, et al. Left atrial appendage isolation in addition to pulmonary vein isolation in persistent atrial fibrillation: one-year clinical outcome after cryoballoon-based ablation. Europace. 2017;19:758–768.
  • Cox JL, Schuessler RB, D’Agostino HJ Jr, et al. The surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. III. Development of a definitive surgical procedure. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1991;101:569–583.
  • Albåge A, Johansson B, Kennebäck G, et al.; Swedish Arrhythmia Surgery Group. Long-term follow-up of cardiac rhythm in 320 patients after the cox-maze III procedure for atrial fibrillation. Ann Thorac Surg. 2016;101:1443–1449.
  • Huffman MD, Karmali KN, Berendsen MA, et al. Concomitant atrial fibrillation surgery for people undergoing cardiac surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;8:Art. No.: CD011814.
  • Kearney K, Stephenson R, Phan K, et al. A systematic review of surgical ablation versus catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2014;3:15–29.
  • Vroomen M, Pison L. Hybrid ablation for atrial fibrillation: a systematic review. J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2016;47:265–274.
  • Pathak RK, Middeldorp ME, Meredith M, et al. Long-term effect of goal-directed weight management in an atrial fibrillation cohort: a long-term follow-up study (LEGACY). J Am Coll Cardiol. 2015;65:2159–2169.
  • Pathak RK, Elliott A, Middeldorp ME, et al. Impact of CARDIOrespiratory FITness on arrhythmia recurrence in obese individuals with atrial fibrillation: the CARDIO-FIT study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2015;66:985–996.
  • Noseworthy PA, Van Houten HK, Sangaralingham LR, et al. Effect of antiarrhythmic drug initiation on readmission after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. JACC Clin Electrophysiol. 2015;1:238–244.
  • Deftereos S, Giannopoulos G, Efremidis M, et al. Colchicine for prevention of atrial fibrillation recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation: mid-term efficacy and effect on quality of life. Heart Rhythm. 2014;11:620–628.
  • Kim YR, Nam GB, Han S, et al. Effect of short-term steroid therapy on early recurrence during the blanking period after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2015;8:1366–1372.
  • Mont L, Guasch E. Atrial fibrillation progression: how sick is the atrium? Heart Rhythm. 2017;14:808–809.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.