Effectiveness of catheter ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for atrial fibrillation

Current Opinion in Cardiology

Volumn 24, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 9-17

  Novak, Paul G ^a,b  

^a ROYAL JUBILEE HOSPITAL   (Canada)

^b NONE   (Canada)

Author keywords

Antiarrhythmic drugs; Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Comparison; Review

Indexed keywords

AMIODARONE; ANTIARRHYTHMIC AGENT; DISOPYRAMIDE; DOFETILIDE; FLECAINIDE; MORACIZINE; PROPAFENONE; QUINIDINE; SOTALOL;

CATHETER ABLATION; CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS; CLINICAL TRIAL; DRUG SAFETY; DRUG WITHDRAWAL; EMBOLISM; HEART ATRIUM FIBRILLATION; HEART FAILURE; HUMAN; LUNG FIBROSIS; NEUROLOGIC DISEASE; PATIENT SAFETY; PATIENT SATISFACTION; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REVIEW; RISK ASSESSMENT; SKIN DISCOLORATION; STROKE; THYROID DISEASE; TREATMENT INDICATION;

ANTI-ARRHYTHMIA AGENTS; ATRIAL FIBRILLATION; CATHETER ABLATION; HEART RATE; HUMANS;

EID: 58149265070     PISSN: 02684705     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1097/HCO.0b013e32831c52e6     Document Type: Review

References (57)

1. Camm AJ, Obel OA. Epidemiology and mechanism of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. Am J Cardiol 1996; 78;3-11.
2. Kannel WB, Abbot RD, Savage DD, McNamara PM. Epidemiologic features of chronic atrial fibrillation: the Framingham study. N Engl J Med 1982; 306:1018-1022.
3. Benjamin EJ, Wolf PA, D'Agostino RB, et al. Impact of atrial fibrillation on the risk of death: the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation 1998; 98:946-952.
4. Kannel WB, Benjamin EJ. Status of the epidemiology of atrial fibrillation. Med. Clin N Am 2008; 92:17-40. This study provides an excellent summary of the epidemiology of atrial fibrillation, how it has changed over the years, and provides important projections.
5. Hohnloser SH, Kuck K, Lilienthal J. Rhythm or rate control in atrial fibrillation - pharmacological intervention in atrial fibrillation (PIAF): a randomised trial. Lancet 2000; 356:1789-1794.
6. Wyse DG, Waldo AL, DiMarco JP, et al. A comparison of rate control and rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2002; 347:1825-1833.
7. Van Gelder IC, Hagens VE, Bosker HA, et al. A comparison of rate control and rhythm control in patients with recurrent persistent atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2002; 347:1834-1840.
8. Carlsson J, Miketic S, Windeler J, et al. 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.
9. Roy D, Talajic M, Nattel S, et al. Rhythm control versus rate control for atrial fibrillation and heart failure. N Engl J Med 2008; 358:2667-2677. This study is a landmark trial evaluating the efficacy of an AAD-based rhythm control strategy compared with a rate control strategy in patients with LV systolic dysfunction and reported no significant differences in mortality.
10. Corley SD, Epstein AE, DiMarco JP, et al. Relationship between sinus rhythm, treatment and survival in the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) study. Circulation 2004; 109:1509-1513.
11. The Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (CAST) Investigators. Preliminary report: effect of encainide and flecainide on mortality in a randomized trial of arrhythmia suppression after myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med 1989; 321:406-412.
12. Waldo AL, Camm AJ, deRuyter H, et al. Effect of d-sotalol on mortality in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after recent and remote myocardial infarction. The SWORD Investigators. Survival with Oral d-Sotalol. Lancet 1996; 348:7-12.
13. Roy D, Talajic M, Dorian P, et al. Amiodarone to prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2000; 342:913-920.
14. Talajic M, Roy D. 2004 CCS Consensus Conference: atrial fibrillation - drug therapy for termination of atrial fibrillation and maintenance of sinus rhythm. Can J Cardiol 2005; 21 (Suppl B):19B-25B.
15. Chun SH, Sager PT, Stevenson WG, et al. Long-term efficacy of amiodarone for the maintenance of normal sinus rhythm in patients with refractory atnal fibrillation or flutter. Am J Cardiol 1995; 76:47-50.
16. Cox JL, Boineau JP, Schuessler RB, et al. Fiver-year experience with the Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation. Ann Thorac Surg 1993; 56:814-824.
17. Cox JL, Schuessler RB, Lappas DG, et al. An 8 1/2 year experience with surgery of atrial fibrillation. Ann Surg 1996; 224:267-273.
18. Haissaguerre M, Gencel L, Gisher B, et al. Successful catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 1994; 5:1045-1052.
19. Haissaguerre M, Jais P, Shah DC, et al. Right and left atrial radiofrequency catheter ablation therapy of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 1996; 7:1132-1144.
20. Gaita F, Riccardi R, Calo L, et al. Atrial mapping and radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with idopathic atrial fibrillation. Circulation 1998; 97;2136-2145.
21. Pappone C, Oreto G, Lamberti F, et al. Catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation using a 3D mapping system. Circulation 1999; 100:1203-1208.
22. Haissaguerre M, Jais 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.
23. Chen SA, Hsieh MH, Tai CT, et al. Initiation of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats originating from the pulmonary veins: electrophysiological characteristics, pharmacological response, and effects of radiofrequency ablation. Circulation 1999; 100:1879-1886.
24. Finta B, Haines DE. Catheter ablation therapy for atrial fibrillation. Cardiol Clin 2004; 22:127-145.
25. Oral H, Scharf C, Chugh A, et al. Catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: segmental pulmonary vein ostial ablation versus left atrial ablation. Circulation 2003; 108:2355-2360.
26. Pappone C, Rosanio S, Augello G, et al. Mortality, morbidity, and quality of life after circumferential pulmonary vein ablation for atrial fibrillation: outcomes from a controlled nonrandomized long-term study. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003; 42:185-197.
27. Ouyang F, Bansch D, Ernst S, et al. Complete isolation of left atrium surrounding the pulmonary veins: new insights from the double-lasso technique in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Circulation 2004; 11:2090-2096.
28. Kanj M, Wazni O, Natale A. Pulmonary vein antrum isolation. Heart Rhythm 2007; 4:S73-S79.
29. Nademanee K, McKenzie J, Kosar E, et al. A new approach for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: mapping of the electrophysiologic substrate. J Am Coll Cardiol 2004; 43:2044-2053.
30. Scherlag BJ, Nakagawa H, Jackman WM, et al. Electrical stimulation to identify neural elements on the heart: their role in atrial fibrillation. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2005; 13 (Suppl 1):37-42.
31. Verma A, Natale A. Why atrial fibrillation ablation should be considered firstline therapy for some patients. Circulation 2005; 112:1214-1222.
32. Haissaguerre M, Sanders P, Hocini M, et al. Changes in atrial fibrillation cycle length and inducibility during catheter ablation and their relation to outcome. Circulation 2004; 109:3007-3013.
33. Mansour M, Ruskin J, Keane D. Efficacy and safety of segmental ostial versus circumferential extra-ostial pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2004; 15:532-537.
34. Marrouche NF, Martin DO, Wazni O, et al. Phased-array intracadiac echocardiography monitoring during pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation: impact on outcome and complications. Circulation 2003; 107:2710-2716.
35. Cappato R, Calkins H, Chen SA, et al. Worldwide survey on the methods, efficacy, and safety of catheter ablation for human atrial fibrillation. Circulation 2005; 111:1100-1105.
36. Hsieh MH, Tai CT, Tsai CF, et al. Clinical outcome of very late recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2003; 14:598-601.
37. Nademanee K, Schwab MC, Kosar EM, et al. Clinical outcomes of catheter substrate ablation for high risk patients with atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008;51:1843-1849. This is an important article as it examines the mortality of patients successfully cured by CFAE-based catheter ablation. It also reports on the safety of discontinuing coumadin after ablation.
38. Hsu LF, Jais P, Sanders P, et al. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in congestive heart failure. N Engl J Med 2004; 351:2373-2383.
39. Chen MS, Marrouche NF, Khaykin Y, et al. Pulmonary vein isolation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with impaired systolic function. J Am Coll Cardiol 2004; 43:1004-1009.
40. Kilicaslan F, Verma A, Saad E, et al. Efficacy of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Heart Rhythm 2006; 3:275-280.
41. Gaita F, Di Donna P, Olivotto I, et al. Usefulness and safety of transcatheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol 2007; 99:1575-1581. This is an important study as it is only one of a few looking at radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This study reports a 64% overall success rate.
42. Khaykin Y, Marrouche NF, Saliba W, et al. Pulmonary vein antrum isolation for treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with valvular heart disease or prior open heart surgery. Heart Rhythm 2004; 1:33-39.
43. Oral H, Pappone C, Chugh A, et al. Circumferential pulmonary vein ablation for chronic atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2006; 354:934-941.
44. Pappone C, Oral H, Santinelli V, et al. Atrio-esophageal fistula as a complication of percutaneous transcatheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Circulation 2004; 109:2724-2726.
45. Saad EB, Marrouche NF, Saad CP, et al. Pulmonary vein stenosis after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: emergence of a new clinical syndrome. Ann Int Med 2003; 138:634-638.
46. Spragg DD, Dalai D, Cheema A, et al. Complications of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: incidence and predictors. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2008; 19:627-631.
47. Bertaglia E, Zoppo F, Tondo C, et al. Early complications of pulmonary vein catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a multicenter prospective registry on procedural safety. Heart Rhythm 2007; 4:1265-1271. This is an important study reviewing complication rates of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in a modern era combining results from multiple centers. The complication rate reported was 3.9%.
48. Ren JF, Marchlinski FE, Callans DJ, et al. Increased intensity of anticoagulation may reduce risk of thrombus during atrial fibrillation ablation procedures in patients with spontaneous echo contrast. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2005; 16:474-477.
49. Prieto LR, Schoenhagen P, Arruda J, et al. Comparison of stent versus balloon angioplasty for pulmonary vein stenosis complicating pulmonary vein isolation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2008; 19:673-678. This is a very important study, examining in a systematic fashion the results of treatment of pulmonary vein stenosis with plain old balloon angioplasty versus stent deployment. The study reports better results with stenting and also suggests improved outcomes with earlier referral.
50. Fuster V, Ryden LE, Cannom DS, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation - Executive Summary. J Am Coll Cardiol 2006; 48:854-906.
51. 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.
52. Stabile G, Bertaglia E, Senatore et al. Catheter ablation treatment in patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation: a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled study (Catheter ablation for the cure of atrial fibrillation study). Eur Heart J 2006; 27:216-221.
53. Pappone C, Augello G, Sala S, et al. A randomized trial of cirumferential pulmonary vein ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: the APAF Study. J Am Coll Cardiol 2006; 48:2340-2347.
54. Noheria A, Kumar A, Wylie JV, Josephson ME. Catheter ablation vs antiar- rhythmic drug therapy for atrial fibrillation: a systematic review. Arch Intern Med 2008; 168:581-586. This is a very important study reporting on a systematic review of trials comparing treatment of atrial fibrillation with AADs versus catheter ablation. This study reports an overall 75% success rate with catheter ablation compared with only 19% for AADs.
55. 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 (Suppl 1):S8-S16.
56. Bertaglia E, Stabile G, Senatore G, et al. A clinical and health-economic evaluation of pulmonary vein encircling ablation compared with antiarrhythmic drug treatment in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (Catheter Ablation for the Cure of Atrial Fibrillation - 2 study). Europace 2007; 9:182-185. This is an interesting study reporting on a trial that is currently recruiting. The results will help further answer the question of whether catheter ablation is superior to AAD therapy. Furthermore, this group aims to report on the cost effectiveness of catheter ablation as a strategy to treat atrial fibrillation compared with AAD therapy.
57. Khaykin R, Morillo CA, Skanes AC, et al. Cost comparison of catheter ablation and medical therapy in atrial fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2007; 18:907-913. This study is an excellent analysis of the costs associated with the treatment of atrial fibrillation with catheter ablation and AADs. The analysis suggests that catheter ablation reached cost equivalence to medical therapy after only 4 years.