title: Long-term outcomes of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the past decade, catheter ablation has become an established therapy for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). Until very recently, few data have been available to guide the clinical community on the outcomes of AF ablation at ≥3 years of follow-up. We aimed to systematically review the medical literature to evaluate the long-term outcomes of AF ablation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A structured electronic database search (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane) of the scientific literature was performed for studies describing outcomes at ≥3 years after AF ablation, with a mean follow-up of ≥24 months after the index procedure. The following data were extracted: (1) single-procedure success, (2) multiple-procedure success, and (3) requirement for repeat procedures. Data were extracted from 19 studies, including 6167 patients undergoing AF ablation. Single-procedure freedom from atrial arrhythmia at long-term follow-up was 53.1% (95% CI 46.2% to 60.0%) overall, 54.1% (95% CI 44.4% to 63.4%) in paroxysmal AF, and 41.8% (95% CI 25.2% to 60.5%) in nonparoxysmal AF. Substantial heterogeneity (I(2)>50%) was noted for single-procedure outcomes. With multiple procedures, the long-term success rate was 79.8% (95% CI 75.0% to 83.8%) overall, with significant heterogeneity (I(2)>50%).The average number of procedures per patient was 1.51 (95% CI 1.36 to 1.67).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Catheter ablation is an effective and durable long-term therapeutic strategy for some AF patients. Although significant heterogeneity is seen with single procedures, long-term freedom from atrial arrhythmia can be achieved in some patients, but multiple procedures may be required.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, Department of Cardiology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Anand N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Ganesan
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Shipp
authors.forename: Anthony G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuklik
authors.forename: Dennis H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Han S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Kurt C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Roberts-Thomson
authors.forename: Prashanthan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanders
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
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