2011 ACCF/AHA/HRS focused update on the management of patients with atrial fibrillation (Updating the 2006 Guideline): a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines

Specific criteria/considerations for inclusion of new data include the following: publication in a peer-reviewed journal; large, randomized, placebo-controlled trial(s); nonrandomized data deemed important on the basis of results affecting current safety and efficacy assumptions; strength/weakness of research methodology and findings; likelihood of additional studies influencing current findings; impact on current and/or likelihood of need to develop new performance measure(s); request(s) and requirement(s) for review and update from the practice community, key stakeholders, and other sources free of relationships with industry or other potential bias; number of previous trials showing consistent results; and need for consistency with a new guideline or guideline revisions. Ideal candidates for catheter ablation are younger patients with minimal structural abnormalities and multiple symptomatic episodes of paroxysmal AF over time despite appropriate pharmacological therapy. 70% of patients treated by catheter ablation remained free of symptomatic recurrent atrial arrhythmia versus 19% of patients treated with ADT. 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.39; p>0.001 HR: 0.24 63% of patients treated by catheter ablation were free of recurrent atrial arrhythmia versus 17% of patients treated with ADT. 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.45; p