Systematic Review: Comparative Effectiveness of Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

  1. Teruhiko Terasawa, MD;
  2. Ethan M. Balk, MD, MPH;
  3. Mei Chung, MPH;
  4. Ann C. Garlitski, MD;
  5. Alawi A. Alsheikh-Ali, MD;
  6. Joseph Lau, MD; and
  7. Stanley Ip, MD
  1. From Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
    1. Figure 1.
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        Figure 1. Study flow diagram.

        RFA = radiofrequency catheter ablation.

        * The RFA groups in 6 randomized, controlled trials and 2 nonrandomized studies that compared catheter ablation with medical treatment were used as cohorts.

        † 56 studies met criteria for ≥2 questions.

      • Figure 2.
        View larger version:
          Figure 2. Random-effects model meta-analysis of relative risk for maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with RFA or AADs.

          The diamond shows the summary relative risk centered on a combined estimate and extending to 95% CIs. Squares and horizontal lines indicate relative risks and 95% CIs, respectively, for individual studies. The size of the squares is proportional to the weight of each study in the meta-analysis. Studies are ordered by sample size. AAD = antiarrhythmic drug; RFA = radiofrequency catheter ablation.

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        1. Ann Intern Med August 4, 2009 vol. 151 no. 3 191-202
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