Catheter ablation can be a highly effective treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (A-fib), the type that causes short-lived bursts of rapid, irregular heart rhythm to occur sporadically. But catheter ablation is less effective when A-fib is persistent—that is, episodes last for a week or longer and require emergency intervention to stop. In fact, the first catheter ablation is successful only in about 65% of those with persistent A-fib. When catheter ablation fails, hybrid ablation may a viable treatment option.
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