Clinical Benefits of Additional Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrogram Targeted Catheter Ablation for Longstanding Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

1. Purpose of the study

1) To compare clinical outcome, procedure time, complication rate of persistent atrial fibrillation patients between conventional additional linear ablation and additional complex fractionated atrial electrogram targeted catheter ablation.

2. Scientific evidence of the study

1. In atrial fibrillation patients, the maintenance of normal sinus rhythm showed significant reduction of mortality. 2. drug therapy with anti-arrhythmic drug showed many complications and side effect, thus non-drug therapy such as catheter ablation is developed. 3. catheter ablation has been performed for 10years world-wide, and showed superior treatment outcome compared with drug therapy. 4. However, there are no consensus for proper ablation strategy in longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation. 5. additional ablation make extent of myocardial injury and paradoxically increase recurrence rate, thus still controversial. 6. Therefore, we will compare conventional linear ablation with additional complex fractionated atrial electrogram targeted catheter ablation.

3. Methods

1. Treatment of All patients with atrial fibrillation is performed according to the standard treatment guideline of atrial fibrillation. 2. there is no additional blood sampling, imaging study, or any other invasive procedure according to the inclusion of the study.

4. study contents

1. to evaluate superior ablation strategy in longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation

* compare conventional linear ablation with additional complex fractionated atrial electrogram targeted catheter ablation. both strategies are conventional ablation strategies being performed world-wide. 2. compare complex fractionated atrial electrogram before and after linear ablation.