10
Treatment
Nonablation
strategies
to improve
outcomes
Weight loss can be useful for patients
with AF, including those who are being
evaluated to undergo an AF ablation
procedure, as part of a comprehensive risk
factor management strateg y.
2A B-R
It is reasonable to consider a patient's
body mass index (BMI) when discussing
the risks, benefits, and outcomes of AF
ablation with a patient being evaluated for
an AF ablation procedure.
2A B-R
It is reasonable to screen for signs and
symptoms of sleep apnea when evaluating
a patient for an AF ablation procedure
and recommend a sleep evaluation if sleep
apnea is suspected.
2A B-R
Treatment of sleep apnea can be useful for
patients with AF, including those who are
being evaluated to undergo an AF ablation
procedure.
2A B-R
e usefulness of discontinuation of
antiarrhythmic drug therapy prior to AF
ablation in an effort to improve long-term
outcomes is unclear.
2B C-LD
e usefulness of initiation or
continuation of antiarrhythmic drug
therapy during the post ablation healing
phase in an effort to improve long-term
outcomes is unclear.
2B C-LD
Strategies to
reduce the risks
of AF ablation
Careful identification of the PV ostia is
mandatory to avoid ablation within the PVs.
1 B-NR
It is recommended that RF power be
reduced when creating lesions along the
posterior wall near the esophagus.
1 C-LD
It is reasonable to use an esophageal
temperature probe during AF ablation
procedures to monitor esophageal
temperature and help guide energ y delivery.
2A C-EO
Table 3. Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Strategies, Techniques,
and Endpoints (cont'd)
Recommendations COR LOE
