Catheter Ablation Again Shows Benefit in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure

Numerous randomized trials of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, one of the most commonly performed procedures by electrophysiologists, have nearly all shown significant benefits in patients with heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Now adding to that evidence is a trial in which researchers randomized 194 patients who had symptomatic atrial fibrillation and LVEF ≤35%, and who were referred for heart transplantation evaluation, to either catheter ablation plus guideline-directed medical therapy or to guideline-directed medical therapy alone. The data safety and monitoring board stopped the trial for efficacy 1 year after randomization was completed (NCT04649801).

During a median follow-up of 18 months,…