In coromio today. For the first time a randomized trail called FAST was comparing the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation in comparison to surgical ablation.

The trial involved 124 patients with atrial fibrillation and that were refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs. The study evaluated two different ways to treat the patient.  The patient to be included in the study should have hypertension with left atrial dilatation between 40 to 44mm, should have had a negative catheter ablation procedure or a dilatation of the left atrial superior or equal to 45mm. Were excluded long standing persistent atrial fibrillation that was longer than one year period, prior stroke, cardiac surgery within the last three months, left atrial size superior to 65mm, important valvular disease, left ventricular EF inferior to 45%, transient ischaemic attack or prior attack.

The study concluded that Catheter ablation is less efficient than minimal invasive surgical ablation. The results will support patients and doctors when making the decision for optimum invasive treatment for atrial fibrillation.

Source Publmed