title: Is there still a role for additional linear ablation in addition to pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation? An Updated Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The benefits and risks of additional left atrium (LA) linear ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) remain unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trials were identified in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane databases, and the relevant papers were examined. Pooled relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated using random effects models. The primary endpoint was the maintenance of sinus rhythm after a single ablation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine randomized controlled trials involving 1138 patients were included in this analysis. Additional LA linear ablation did not improve the maintenance of the sinus rhythm following a single procedure (RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.93-1.13; P=0.60). A subgroup analysis demonstrated that all methods of additional linear ablation failed to improve the outcome. Additional linear ablation significantly increased the mean procedural time (166.53±67.7 vs. 139.57±62.44min, P<0.001), the mean fluoroscopy time (54.56±38.7 vs. 44.32±31.6min, P<0.001) and the mean radiofrequency (RF) energy application time (78.94±28.39 vs. 59.74±22.38min, P<0.001). No statistically significant differences in the rates of complications were noted (RR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.27-1.19; P=0.13).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additional LA linear ablation did not exhibit any benefits in terms of sinus rhythm maintenance for paroxysmal AF patients following a single procedure. Additional linear ablation significantly increased the mean procedural, fluoroscopy and RF application times. This additional ablation was not associated with a statistically significant increase in complication rates. This finding must be confirmed by further large, high-quality clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoliang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jingzhou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuedong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: huxl3@mail2.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Anli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Linear ablation; Meta-analysis