AMICA 2019 CAMERA-MRI 2017 Jones et al. 2013 CAMTAF 2013 AATAC 2016 CABANA 2021 CASTLE-AF 2018 RAFT-AF 2022
Ablation strategy
PVI ± linear lesions, ablation of complex fractionated electrograms, or combination ± Cardioversion
PVI + posterior wall isolation ± Cardioversion
PVI + linear lesions + left atrial complex fractionated electrograms ± Cardioversion and cavotricuspid isthmus ablation
PVI with ablation of complex or fractionated electrograms ± linear lesions ± Cavotricuspid isthmus ablation
PVI + posterior wall isolation ± SVC isolation ±  linear lesions ±  left atrial complex fractionated electrograms ± Cardioversion
PVI ± Linear lesions ± ganglion plexus ± electrogram-based approaches
PVI ± additional ablation lesions at the discretion of the operators
PVI ± complex atrial fractionated electrograms ± roof line ± mitral isthmus line ± left atrial posterior wall isolation
Frequency of monitoring (months) 1, 3, 6, & 12 1.5, 3 & 6 3,6 & 12 1, 3 & 6 3, 6, 12 & 24 3, 6, & 12 months, then every 6 months  3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 & 60 2, 4, & 6 months, then every 6 months
Method of assessing rhythm on follow up 12-lead ECG at follow-up, patient-performed surface devices, & implantable devices Holter monitor at 3 and 6 months ECG at follow-up + 48h Holter monitor at 6 and 12 months ± existing implantable devices 12-lead ECG, 48h Holter monitor ECG at 3 and 24 months, and existing implantable device interrogation at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months CABANA monitoring system: ECG event recorder, with 24-hour autodetect and 96-hour Holter monitoring every 6 months Existing implantable device interrogation 12-lead ECG at each follow-up for all patients + 14-day ambulatory monitoring (CardioSTAT) at 12- and 24-months in 7 centers
Repeat ablation 10 (15%) Allowed if symptomatic recurrence >3 months after procedure 5 (19.2%) 14 (53.8%) 1.4 ± 0.6 procedures per person Repeat procedure was allowed 37 (24.5%) 77 (37.6%)
Crossover 3 3 2 None None None 46 (28 to medical therapy, 18 to ablation) None
Loss to follow-up 17 ablation, 13 medical therapy None None 1 ablation, 1 medical therapy None N/A 23 ablation, 10 medical therapy 3 ablation, 4 medical therapy
AAD on follow-up
Amiodarone in 23 patients (34%) in the ablation arm and 39 (54%) in the control arm at 12 month follow-up
AAD resumed if present or started after early recurrence
AAD stopped post ablation unless indicated by other reasons
AAD stopped post ablation unless indicated by other reasons
AAD allowed during the blanking period (3 months)
AAD allowed during the blanking period (3 months)
48 patients (25%) in the ablation arm and 64 (35%) in the control arm
AAD allowed 4-6 weeks post ablation and as adjunctive therapy after ≥ 2 ablation procedures. 48 patients (22.8%) of the ablation group and 12 patients (6.2%) on AAD at last follow-up.
PVI: Pulmonary vein isolation, AAD: Antiarrhythmic drug, N/A: Not available PVI: Pulmonary vein isolation, AAD: Antiarrhythmic drug, N/A: Not available PVI: Pulmonary vein isolation, AAD: Antiarrhythmic drug, N/A: Not available PVI: Pulmonary vein isolation, AAD: Antiarrhythmic drug, N/A: Not available PVI: Pulmonary vein isolation, AAD: Antiarrhythmic drug, N/A: Not available PVI: Pulmonary vein isolation, AAD: Antiarrhythmic drug, N/A: Not available PVI: Pulmonary vein isolation, AAD: Antiarrhythmic drug, N/A: Not available PVI: Pulmonary vein isolation, AAD: Antiarrhythmic drug, N/A: Not available