Vein of Marshall Ethanol Infusion for Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation Patients Presenting for Redo Ablation: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Randomized trials of ethanol infusion into the vein of Marshall (EIVOM) have shown efficacy in preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in patients presenting for de novo ablation. The utility of EIVOM in AF patients who present for redo ablation is unclear. This meta‐analysis was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. Risk of bias was assessed using the Modified Newcastle‐Ottawa scale. Eligible studies reported outcomes in AF patients with previous ablation who underwent redo catheter ablation (CA) alone vs. combined redo CA and EIVOM. Five observational studies comprising 568 patients were included. When comparing combined redo CA and EIVOM vs. redo CA alone, pooled results showed no difference in freedom from arrhythmia (FFA) in all patients (risk ratio [RR] 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96–1.33), FFA in persistent AF patients only (RR 1.08; 95% CI 0.90–1.29), total procedure time (mean difference −0.59; 95% CI −41.04–39.85), or major periprocedural complications (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.06–11.64). Patients with AF recurrence after ablation represent a difficult‐to‐treat population. Salvage therapy with combined CA and EIVOM did not improve arrhythmic outcomes compared to CA alone in AF patients who presented for redo ablation.