Catheter ablation should not be first-line therapy for atrial fibrillation.

摘要

Catheter ablation therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF) has evolved rapidly from a highly experimental, unproven procedure, to its current status as the most common ablation procedure performed in most major hospitals throughout the world. This dramatic and widespread acceptance of catheter ablation of AF has been fueled by several factors, including a large number of studies that have reported high rates of successful treatment and a low incidence of complications, and the lack of satisfaction, from both patients and cardiologists, with available antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Recently, it has been proposed that catheter ablation should be considered as first-line therapy in the treatment of some patients with AF.3 The purpose of this Viewpoint article is to share my contrasting and strong belief that it is premature to consider catheter ablation of AF as first-line therapy.