Catheter Ablation as the First-Line Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation: Update on Evidence and Clinical Implications

Therapy for atrial fibrillation has markedly evolved over the past two decades. Advancements in technology and growing therapeutic options have led to reexamination of the current evidence. New guidelines have also been updated and published across continents. This reappraisal of the contemporary data assesses the overall treatment strategies for patients with atrial fibrillation, and examines how atrial fibrillation ablation ranks among the hierarchy of therapeutic modalities. The role of catheter ablation as a first-line therapy in selected patients with atrial fibrillation is emphasized, and a selective discussion of catheter ablation in patients with heart failure is included in this review.