Catheter Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with a lifetime risk exceeding 20% by 80 years of age.1 Despite associations of atrial fibrillation with heart failure, stroke, and increased mortality, antiarrhythmic drug therapy with the goal of maintaining sinus rhythm has not improved outcomes in randomized trials.2,3 Recently, attention has shifted toward catheter ablation. This therapy was superior to antiarrhythmic drug therapy for maintaining sinus rhythm in small, randomized trials of selected patients in whom treatment with an antiarrhythmic drug had failed.4 Although a benefit with respect to survival and morbidity has yet to be confirmed, ablation is . . .