STUDY LIMITATIONS
We have several limitations in the present study. First, the study has
the inherent limitations of a non-randomized retrospective study from a
single-center. However, we used propensity score-matched analysis to
compare different ablation methods, therefore patients’ backgrounds were
statistically adjusted. Second, we used an irrigated ablation catheter
without contact force in this study. Contact force guide ablation makes
it possible to more firmly create transmural lesion for PVI and linear
ablation compared with conventional ablation catheter, which may affect
the results. Third, as mentioned in discussion section, EGM-guided
ablation is associated with an element of subjectivity. However only one
experienced operator performed the procedure in this population,
therefore the operator bias was limited.