Different effects of additional ganglion plexus ablation on catheter and surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation: a systemic review and meta‐analysis.

The effect of ganglion plexus (GP) ablation in addition to pulmonary veins isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF) remained controversial between the catheter and surgical‐based studies. Eleven studies (five randomized controlled trials and six nonrandomized studies) of 1750 patients were included in a meta‐analysis to elucidate the incremental benefit of additional GP ablation in patients undergoing catheter or surgical ablation. Risk ratios were calculated for freedom from AF or AT recurrence after a single procedure. Additional GP ablation was associated with a better rhythm outcome for patients undergone catheter ablation but did not seem to increase freedom from AF/AT for surgical patients. Both paroxysmal and non‐paroxysmal AF showed a positive outcome comparing additional GP ablation with PVI alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]