This Figure shows similar data for patients who maintained sinus rhythm for at least 6 months following therapy with radiofrequency ablation (RFA, n=28) vs DC cardioversion (n=32), both groups compared with normal controls.  Boyd and colleagues [31] used color Doppler tissue imaging to assess regional and global left atrial contractile function.  The RFA group exhibited the worst results for all the functions studied, and because anticoagulation therapy is not generally considered necessary following ablation, these results clearly have clinical implications regarding anticoagulation in patients with AFib.

Reiffel JA. Am J Med 2013; 126: 00-00.