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Ablation catheters for atrial fibrillation: benefits and complications

Dong-In Shin and Thomas Deneke

Treatment of symptomatic atrial fibrillation by ablation has become a well-established therapeutic option. Electrophysiologists provide pulmonary vein isolation and substrate modification by using different mapping systems and ablation catheters, which differ in many technical aspects, such as the energy form applied, shape or mapping characteristics. Both cryothermal and radiofrequency energy have been routinely used for ablation therapy, but lately high-intensity-focused ultrasound has been described as a promising energy alternative. In this article we try to differentiate between the commonly used ablation catheters in atrial fibrillation ablation, reflecting on their potential in terms of efficacy, safety and feasibility.