Review

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a contemporary narrative review of indications, techniques, and emerging technologies

Volume: 8 Number: 3 May 22, 2026

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a contemporary narrative review of indications, techniques, and emerging technologies

Abstract

This review summarises the current indications for catheter ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), its fundamental technical principles, and new technologies. The effects of rhythm control, which is superior to drug therapy in symptomatic paroxysmal and persistent AF, reduction in AF burden, and potential mortality/functional improvement are discussed; the fundamental role of pulmonary vein isolation, additional substrate ablation strategies in persistent AF, special considerations in patients with concomitant Structural heart disease (SHD) and heart failure, and new energies such as pulsed field ablation are evaluated. AF catheter ablation, performed in suitable patients, with optimal timing and in experienced centres, is a key part of modern AF management. It greatly improves symptoms and can positively affect prognosis in some groups. Advances in technology and personalised strategies are expected to improve effectiveness and reduce risks.

Keywords

References

  1. Andrade J, Khairy P, Dobrev D, Nattel S. The clinical profile and pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation: relationships among clinical features, epidemiology, and mechanisms. Circ Res. 2014;114(9):1453-1468. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.114.303211
  2. Willems S, Wegner F, Eckardt L. Atrial fibrillation guideline group. clinical practice guideline: preventive measures and treatment options for atrial fibrillation. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2025;122(16):439-444. doi:10. 3238/arztebl.m2025.0082
  3. Sagris M, Vardas EP, Theofilis P, Antonopoulos AS, Oikonomou E, Tousoulis D. Atrial fibrillation: pathogenesis, predisposing factors, and genetics. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;23(1):6. doi:10.3390/ijms23010006
  4. Lippi G, Sanchis-Gomar F, Cervellin G. Global epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: an increasing epidemic and public health challenge. Int J Stroke. 2021;16(2):217-221. doi:10.1177/1747493019897870
  5. Elliott AD, Middeldorp ME, Van Gelder IC, Albert CM, Sanders P. Epidemiology and modifiable risk factors for atrial fibrillation. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2023;20(6):404-417. doi:10.1038/s41569-022-00820-8
  6. Deshmukh A, Covassin N, Dauvilliers Y, Somers VK. Sleep disruption and atrial fibrillation: evidence, mechanisms and clinical implications. Circ Res. 2025;137(5):788-808. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.125.325612
  7. Tzeis S, Gerstenfeld EP, Kalman J, et al. 2024 European Heart Rhythm Association/Heart Rhythm Society/Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society/Latin American Heart Rhythm Society expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation. Europace. 2024;26(4): euae043. doi:10.1093/europace/euae043
  8. AlTurki A, Essebag V. Atrial fibrillation ablation: impact on burden and cardiovascular outcomes. J Clin Med. 2025;14(8):2648. doi:10.3390/jcm14082648

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cardiology

Journal Section

Review

Publication Date

May 22, 2026

Submission Date

February 23, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 10, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 3

APA
Sarıoğlu, G., & Kurtoğlu, E. (2026). Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a contemporary narrative review of indications, techniques, and emerging technologies. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 8(3), 582-587. https://izlik.org/JA88RC33TN
AMA
1.Sarıoğlu G, Kurtoğlu E. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a contemporary narrative review of indications, techniques, and emerging technologies. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8(3):582-587. https://izlik.org/JA88RC33TN
Chicago
Sarıoğlu, Güney, and Ertuğrul Kurtoğlu. 2026. “Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Contemporary Narrative Review of Indications, Techniques, and Emerging Technologies”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 (3): 582-87. https://izlik.org/JA88RC33TN.
EndNote
Sarıoğlu G, Kurtoğlu E (May 1, 2026) Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a contemporary narrative review of indications, techniques, and emerging technologies. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 3 582–587.
IEEE
[1]G. Sarıoğlu and E. Kurtoğlu, “Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a contemporary narrative review of indications, techniques, and emerging technologies”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 582–587, May 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA88RC33TN
ISNAD
Sarıoğlu, Güney - Kurtoğlu, Ertuğrul. “Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Contemporary Narrative Review of Indications, Techniques, and Emerging Technologies”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8/3 (May 1, 2026): 582-587. https://izlik.org/JA88RC33TN.
JAMA
1.Sarıoğlu G, Kurtoğlu E. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a contemporary narrative review of indications, techniques, and emerging technologies. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8:582–587.
MLA
Sarıoğlu, Güney, and Ertuğrul Kurtoğlu. “Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Contemporary Narrative Review of Indications, Techniques, and Emerging Technologies”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 8, no. 3, May 2026, pp. 582-7, https://izlik.org/JA88RC33TN.
Vancouver
1.Güney Sarıoğlu, Ertuğrul Kurtoğlu. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a contemporary narrative review of indications, techniques, and emerging technologies. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj [Internet]. 2026 May 1;8(3):582-7. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA88RC33TN

 

TR DİZİN ULAKBİM and International Indexes (1b)
 

Interuniversity Board (UAK) Equivalency:  Article published in Ulakbim TR Index journal [10 POINTS], and Article published in other (excuding 1a, b, c) international indexed journal (1d) [5 POINTS]

Note: Our journal is not WOS indexed and therefore is not classified as Q.

You can download Council of Higher Education (CoHG) [Yüksek Öğretim Kurumu (YÖK)] Criteria) decisions about predatory/questionable journals and the author's clarification text and journal charge policy from your browser. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/journal/3449/file/4924/show

 

Journal Indexes and Platforms: 

TR Dizin ULAKBİM, Google Scholar, Crossref, Worldcat (OCLC), DRJI, EuroPub, OpenAIRE, Turkiye Citation Index, Turk Medline, ROAD, ICI World of Journal's, Index Copernicus, ASOS Index, General Impact Factor, Scilit.


 

The indexes of the journal's are;


 

download?token=eyJhdXRoX3JvbGVzIjpbXSwiZW5kcG9pbnQiOiJqb3VybmFsIiwib3JpZ2luYWxuYW1lIjoiVHJfSW5kZXhfbG9nby5wbmciLCJwYXRoIjoiMDFiOS82MmZhLzA3MzMvNjlkZjNlNTdhMmI4ZjkuODYxMzMxMjQucG5nIiwiZXhwIjoxNzc2MjQxNzY3LCJub25jZSI6ImQyMTQ4MjdiNTg1ZjVmMGQwYzAzZTMxNzMwM2QwMThmIn0.RmnGvwR536HdIoKpGO-ApytZ5aRPRT_BFXE2EpGSIqc

asos-index.png
 
f9ab67f.png
 
WorldCat_Logo_H_Color.png
 

 

18596download?token=eyJhdXRoX3JvbGVzIjpbXSwiZW5kcG9pbnQiOiJqb3VybmFsIiwib3JpZ2luYWxuYW1lIjoiT3BlbkFpcmUuanBnIiwicGF0aCI6IjUyMWYvZjljYy8wMDk3LzY5ZGYzZDNiYmVkZGU0LjQzNDM2OTU3LmpwZyIsImV4cCI6MTc3NjI0MTQ4NCwibm9uY2UiOiIwYjgxZDE2NzRiNzhjMWQyOGVmMDM1OTA1MzI5NjdjZiJ9.xeFppR1ubA4i-dHG-u07ht9bQNogFheXQjLyEaP9GgAimages?q=tbn:ANd9GcQgDnBwx0yUPRKuetgIurtELxYERFv20CPAUcPe4jYrrJiwXzac8rGXlzd57gl8iikb1Tk&usqp=CAU

 

84039476_619085835534619_7808805634291269632_n.jpg

 

 

 

The platforms of the journal's are;
 

COPE.jpg
 
images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTbq2FM8NTdXECzlOUCeKQ1dvrISFL-LhxhC7zy1ZQeJk-GGKSx2XkWQvrsHxcfhtfHWxM&usqp=CAUicmje_1_orig.png
 
 
ncbi.png
 
ORCID_logo.pngimages?q=tbn:ANd9GcQlwX77nfpy3Bu9mpMBZa0miWT2sRt2zjAPJKg2V69ODTrjZM1nT1BbhWzTVPsTNKJMZzQ&usqp=CAU
 

 

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTaWSousoprPWGwE-qxwxGH2y0ByZ_zdLMN-Oq93MsZpBVFOTfxi9uXV7tdr39qvyE-U0I&usqp=CAU
 


 


 

 


 


The indexes/platforms of the journal are;
 

TR Dizin Ulakbim, Crossref (DOI), Google Scholar, EuroPub, Directory of Research Journal İndexing (DRJI), Worldcat (OCLC), OpenAIRE, ASOS Index, ROAD, Turkiye Citation Index, ICI World of Journal's, Index Copernicus, Turk Medline, General Impact Factor, Scilit 
 


Journal articles are evaluated as "Double-Blind Peer Review"

 

All articles published in this journal are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY NC ND)