Table 3. Comparison of study protocols.

Author (year)	Surgical ablation protocol	Left atrial appendage removal/excluded	Catheter ablation protocol	Blanking period	Postablative medical management	Post procedure amiodarone	Post procedure anticoagulation
Stulak (2011)	Biatrial cut and sew Cox Maze III procedure between 1993 and 2007 as described by Cox and colleagues (7) using cardiopulmonary bypass. During this time 2 minor modifications to the procedure were used that have been previously described (8)	No	Techniques and lesions sets varied during the study period. Three general approaches were used. All included invasive catheter mapping and then either focal radiofrequency ablation, segmental RF ablation or wide area AF ablation around pulmonary veins	3 months for surgical patients	Surgical: Amiodarone used in those who went into an atrial arrhythmia in hospital and continued for 3 months with electrical cardioversion as needed. Warfarin used for 3 months post-operatively. Catheter: Warfarin anticoagulation usually initiated and continued for at least 3 months. Anticoagulation continued for ongoing AF or >50% narrowing in a pulmonary vein. No mention of amiodarone	In surgical patients who had a recurrence in first 3 months	3 months anticoagulation postoperatively and continued if clinically appropriate
Boersma (2011)	Video-assisted thoracoscopy technique described by Wolf (9) Epicardial PVI was performed with bipolar radiofrequency clamp. At least 2 overlapping applications were made around each vein, and isolation was confirmed. At one site (Barcelona) an additional application was made in the interatrial Waterson groove to isolate the ganglionic plexi. At the other site (St Antonius) the bilateral epicardial ganglia was ablated additionally. LA appendage was removed in all patients	Yes	Wide area linear antrum ablation with documented PV isolation as an end point	3 months blanking period in which electrical or chemical cardioversion to sinus rhythm if clinically indicated	All patients were warfarinized or treated with aspirin for 3 months based on CHADS2 score which was continued or ceased based on the treating cardiologist	Not mentioned	Anticoagulated for 3 months based on VHADS2 score
Wang (2011)	Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical procedure performing bilateral pulmonary vein isolation. Bipolar radiofrequency clamp and generator system used (Atricure). Ligament of Marshall taken down in all patients as well as thoracoscopic left atrial appendage exclusion	Yes	Radiofrequency current ablation used to isolate pulmonary veins, contiguous lesions at least 20 mm from PV ostia, current delivered until local electrogram amplitude reduced by 80%		200 mg amiodarone PO daily for 3 months. Anticoagulated according to AHA/ACC/European Society of Cardiology guidelines (11) based on CHADS score. AAD discontinued when SR with present. During follow up: if AF or AFL found, patient was cardioverted and underwent repeat CPVI	3 months amiodarone	Anticoagulated based on CHADS2 score.
Mahapatra (2011)	Thoracoscopic epicardial ablation was performed as described as the Dallas Lesion set (12)	Yes	Catheter ablation patients were chosen retrospectively but lesion set included at least antral ablation, roof line and CTI line. Mitral lines were made in 17 cases, CS ablation in 9, SVC isolation in 11 and CFAE performed in 12 cases	3 months–electrical cardioversion within 72 hours if indicated	3 months amiodarone (one month at 400 mg daily, 200 mg for remaining 2 months). If intolerant, placed on dofetilide. Anticoagulated based on CHADS2 score for 3 months and indefinitely if ≥2	3 months AAD (amiodarone or dofetilide)	For 3 months and indefinitely if CHADS2 ≥2
Gu (2013)	Modified CryoMaze III was performed with sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass at the same time as valvular heart operation. LAA excluded. RF ablation used to make lesions	Yes	Underwent valvular heart operation and 6 months after, catheter ablation was performed. Circumferential PV ablation was performed at angiographically identified PV ostia, with an endpoint of PVI. For those with AF persistence, CFAEs in the PV area, roof, anterior wall, septum and poster-inferior wall of the left atria were mapped and ablated. If AF still persisted, linear ablation was carried out according to the method previously described by Knecht (13)	First 1 month after ablation–defined as early recurrence. After this period, any episode of AF was considered a recurrence. Reablation was performed at least 1 month after initial procedure. CT was used at 3 months post procedure to assess pulmonary vein stenosis	All cases received low molecular weight heparin and then warfarin anticoagulation with an INR between 2.5 and 3. Amiodarone was loaded with 600 mg IV daily for 3 days, 600 mg PO for 1 week and then 200-400 daily for 3 months. It was then withdrawn in those without AF recurrence but continued in those with recurrence	For 3 months	Indefinitely where indicated
Krakor (2011)	Endoscopic mitral valve repair with concomitant radiofrequency epicardial ablation accessed via right thoracotomy	Not specified	Endoscopic mitral valve repair with concomitant endocardial cryoablation (first 78 patients)		90% of patients in both groups were on amiodarone for 6 to 12 months post operatively with the only determinant of withdrawal amiodarone intolerance	6 to 12 months of amiodarone	Not specified
De Maat (2014)	Minimally invasive off-pump VATS bipolar RF clamp used to isolate pulmonary veins and ablate active ganglionic plexi when found	No [2-4]	Right femoral vein access obtained, transseptal puncture made then endocardial wide area circumferential PVI ablation performed with a radiofrequency unipolar electrode		Catheter ablation patients were given LMWH and restarted oral anticoagulation as per CHADS2VASC score. In surgical patients, LMWH heparin was restarted then oral anticoagulation was restarted 1 month after surgery. Oral anticoagulation was restarted immediately in the CA group based on CHADS2VASC score. Antiarrhythmic drugs were continued for the first 3 months	3 months	As clinically indicated based on CHADS2VASC score