Combined Procedure Versus Catheter Ablation Alone for Atrial Fibrillation: Predictors of Long-Term Arrhythmia

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
28:13

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 26, 2013

33.9K

Xinzhi Yu1,2, Shenyuan Zhou1,2, Xianfeng Du1,3

  • 1Arrhythmia Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo City, China.

Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE
|January 14, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Combined left atrial appendage closure and catheter ablation (LAAC+CA) shows higher atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence than catheter ablation alone. Early recurrence, LAAC+CA, and larger left atrial diameter predict late recurrence risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Medical Devices

Background:

  • Early recurrence (ER) of atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) predicts late recurrence (LR) after catheter ablation (CA).
  • Long-term ATA recurrence after combined left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) and CA is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate long-term ATA recurrence rates following combined LAAC and CA procedures.
  • To compare recurrence rates between combined LAAC+CA and CA-only procedures.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of patients undergoing combined LAAC+CA from January 2019 to February 2022.
  • Propensity score matching to create a comparable CA-only cohort.
  • Defined ER within 8 weeks and LR beyond 8 weeks post-ablation.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in ER between LAAC+CA (25.2%) and CA-only (20.9%) groups.
  • Significantly lower ATA-free rate in the LAAC+CA group after 4-year follow-up (52.1% vs. 63.2%, p=0.049).
  • ER, combined procedure, and increased left atrial diameter were associated with increased LR risk (HRs ranging from 1.559 to 1.789).

Conclusions:

  • Combined LAAC+CA is associated with higher ATA recurrence than CA-only after long-term follow-up.
  • Early recurrence, undergoing the combined procedure, and increased left atrial diameter are risk factors for late recurrence.
Abstract

Keywords:
atrial fibrillationcatheter ablationearly recurrencelate recurrenceleft atrial appendage closure

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