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Updated: Sep 3, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Catheter-ablative techniques for the treatment of atrial fibrillation
1University of California, San Francisco, 500 Parnassus Avenue, Room MU-428, Box 1354, San Francisco, CA 94143-1354, USA.
Insights
Atrial fibrillation (AF) management often fails long-term rhythm control with drugs. This review details four catheter ablation strategies for AF, with two offering potential cures.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent arrhythmia linked to severe health issues.
- Current pharmacological treatments offer limited long-term efficacy for maintaining sinus rhythm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review catheter-based therapeutic interventions for atrial fibrillation.
- To differentiate palliative from potentially curative AF ablation strategies.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of four catheter-based procedures: His ablation, atrioventricular nodal modification, Maze procedure, and pulmonary vein ablation.
- Analysis of their application in managing drug-refractory atrial fibrillation.
Main Results:
- His ablation and AV nodal modification are primarily palliative for symptomatic, refractory AF.
- Maze procedure and pulmonary vein ablation present curative potential for AF.
Conclusions:
- Catheter ablation offers diverse therapeutic options for atrial fibrillation.
- Pulmonary vein isolation and Maze procedures show promise for curative AF treatment.
Abstract:
Atrial fibrillation is the most commonly encountered arrhythmia in clinical practice and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Pharmacologic therapy, although useful for rate control, has proven much less effective in the long term maintenance of sinus rhythm. The utility of implantable atrial defibrillators or pacing to prevent atrial fibrillation remains largely untested. This article describes four catheter-based therapies for atrial fibrillation: His ablation, atrioventricular nodal modification, the Maze procedure, and the ablation of pulmonary vein foci which initiate the arrhythmia. Whereas the first two procedures are largely palliative and recommended for patients with symptomatic, drug-refractory atrial fibrillation, the latter two offer the potential for a curative intervention.
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