Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia and is strongly linked to significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with concomitant heart failure. While the current standard of care, transcatheter pulmonary vein isolation using thermal ablation, has produced symptom relief and demonstrated benefits in patients with heart failure or persistent AF, it is not without limitations. Notably, thermal ablation carries a risk of collateral tissue damage, prompting the need for safer and more effective therapies. In recent years, pulsed field ablation (PFA), a nonthermal modality based on irreversible electroporation, has emerged as a promising alternative, offering targeted ablation with the potential for reduced procedural complications. As new technologies rapidly evolve, there is a critical need to review and synthesize the latest scientific data to inform clinical practice.
This Research Topic aims to address two interconnected areas:
• The advancements and clinical implications of novel ablation technologies, such as PFA and advanced radiofrequency techniques.
• Optimization of ablation strategies, particularly for persistent atrial fibrillation. We are seeking submissions that evaluate the efficacy, safety, and outcomes of these next-generation ablation modalities, as well as their potential to influence future guidelines and standards of care.
Additionally, we welcome research on customised ablation strategies, procedural innovations, and advanced electrophysiological mapping techniques, with a focus on improving outcomes for patients with persistent AF.
We invite original research articles, comprehensive reviews, clinical case series, and expert perspectives that offer evidence-based insights and advance the state of AF therapy.
Keywords: atrial fibrillation, radiofrequency ablation, pulsed field ablation, electroporation, clinical trial, persistent atrail fibrillation, Cryoballoon ablation, Pulmonary vein isolation, Repeat ablation
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
