Cardiology · Electrophysiology · Taipei Veterans General Hospital

Atrial Fibrillation
Catheter Ablation

Redefining atrial fibrillation treatment through scientific discovery, clinical innovation, and decades of contributions to modern AF ablation.

SNQ Gold · Cardiology · Top Global Outcomes 80% Paroxysmal AF success rate 65–75% Chronic AF success rate 500+ Global physicians trained
Cardiac electrophysiology laboratory

Taipei Veterans General Hospital — Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit

80%
Paroxysmal AF success rate
65–75%
Chronic AF success rate
500+
Global physicians trained
01 · Clinical Pain Points

Four challenges that define modern AF ablation.

Challenge 01

Millimeter-level Precision

AF ablation tolerates almost no margin for error.

Challenge

Even minimal deviation may result in incomplete lesions, recurrence, or myocardial injury.

Solution

Prof. Chen’s team established precision-guided AF ablation workflows and pioneered frequency-spectrum signal analysis to improve trigger localisation and lesion accuracy within 2 mm.

Challenge 02

Mapping a Moving Target

Pulmonary-vein triggers must be mapped inside a continuously beating heart.

Challenge

Continuous cardiac motion and blood flow make stable catheter positioning and precise pulmonary-vein localisation highly challenging.

Solution

Prof. Chen’s team helped establish pulmonary veins as a primary AF trigger source and developed systematic Pulmonary Vein Isolation (PVI) strategies. The landmark 1999 Circulation paper has been cited over 1,157× worldwide.

Challenge 03

Precise Energy Delivery

Inadequate lesions lead to recurrence. Excessive energy causes injury.

Challenge

Effective AF ablation requires precise real-time control of lesion depth, overlap, and energy delivery.

Solution

VGHPE developed integrated workflows for real-time signal interpretation, lesion overlap control, AI-assisted mapping, and 3D navigation. Complication rate: 2.59% vs global average 4.54%.

Challenge 04

Recurrent AF Remains Challenging

Non-PV triggers are a major cause of recurrence.

Challenge

Persistent AF frequently involves complex non-pulmonary-vein trigger sites that are difficult to identify and ablate completely.

Solution

The Taipei Approach introduced systematic non-PV trigger mapping strategies for complex AF ablation. Clinical outcomes achieved ~80% success in paroxysmal AF and 65–75% in persistent AF.

02 · Core Science

The science behind the Taipei Approach.

Four discoveries that reshaped the global understanding of atrial fibrillation.

PULMONARY VEIN ECTOPY · 1999
Pillar A

PV Triggers & Re-entry Circuits

Abnormal discharge characteristics of pulmonary veins and surrounding re-entry pathways initiate AF — the foundation of all modern AF ablation. Co-published with Prof. Haïssaguerre in 1999.

1,157 Global citations IF 39.9 Journal impact
SVC · CRISTA · NON-PV SITES · 2000–2003
Pillar B

Non-PV Ectopy as a Second Source

SVC, crista terminalis and coronary sinus also generate AF-triggering ectopic beats. First proposed by this team in 2000 and 2003 — and named the “Taipei Approach” by the Heart Rhythm Society in 2006.

243 Citations (2000 paper) 242 Citations (2003 paper)
COMPLEX FRACTIONATED ELECTROGRAMS · 2008
Pillar C

Rotor Circuits & CFAE

Rotor circuits and complex fractionated atrial electrograms drive AF maintenance. VGHPE established the clinical criteria for identifying and ablating CFAE — adopted in the 2012 AF guidelines.

2012 Guideline adoption 3D Mapping standard
INTRAOPERATIVE DOMINANT FREQUENCY · 2006
Pillar D

Frequency Spectrum Analysis

Pioneered real-time dominant-frequency mapping of the atrium to guide ablation — incorporated into the 2007, 2012 and 2017 international AF ablation guidelines.

3× In global guidelines 2007–17 Guideline years
03 · Milestones

Five discoveries that rewrote the field.

A chronology of the publications, mechanisms and ablation techniques the TCVGH electrophysiology team contributed to international AF practice.

1999

AF originates from pulmonary vein ectopy

Prof. Chen and Prof. Haissaguerre (Bordeaux) simultaneously published that AF is initiated by ectopic beats from pulmonary veins, and can be cured by radiofrequency ablation — opening the global era of curative AF treatment.

Circulation 1999;100:1879–1886 · IF 39.918 · Cited 1,157×

“Initiation of Atrial Fibrillation by Ectopic Beats Originating From the Pulmonary Veins”

Authors: S. Chen, M. Hsieh, C. Tai, C. Tsai, V.S. Prakash, W. Yu, T. Hsu, Y. Ding, M. Chang

2000

Superior vena cava — a second ectopy source

World-first finding: the SVC is another origin of AF ectopic beats. The framework that followed was officially named the “Taipei Approach” by the Heart Rhythm Society in 2006.

Circulation 2000;102:67–74 · Cited 243× · World first

“Initiation of Atrial Fibrillation by Ectopic Beats Originating From the Superior Vena Cava” — C. Tsai, C. Tai, M. Hsieh, et al.


Heart Rhythm 2006;3:1386–1390 · Named “Taipei Approach” by HRS

“Catheter Ablation of AF Originating from Extrapulmonary Vein Areas: Taipei Approach” — S. Higa, C. Tai, S. Chen

2006

Frequency-spectrum analysis to guide AF ablation

Pioneered intraoperative dominant-frequency mapping. Incorporated into the 2007, 2012 and 2017 international AF ablation guidelines.

J Am Coll Cardiol 2006;47:1401–1407 · Adopted in 3 global guidelines

“Frequency Analysis in Different Types of Paroxysmal AF” — Y. Lin, C. Tai, T. Kao, H. Tso, S. Higa, et al.

2008

Fractal electrogram ablation criteria & 3D-mapping standards

Systematic criteria for CFAE ablation and 3D mapping — TCVGH EP Team.

Heart Rhythm 2008;5:968–974 · Adopted in 2012 AF Guidelines
2013

Nonlinear analysis applied to AF ablation

Cross-disciplinary innovation — TCVGH EP Team.

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2013;24:280–289
04 · Evidence

Safety outcomes that set the benchmark.

VGHPE’s AF ablation complication profile compared to the international literature.

2.59%
VGHPE
vs
4.54%
International
↓43% total complication reduction
8 of 13
Zero incidence categories
VGHPE recorded 0% in 8 of 13 individually-tracked complication categories.
↓65% vs intl.
Cardiac tamponade
0.46% at VGHPE vs 1.31% internationally.
↓58% vs intl.
TIA
0.30% at VGHPE vs 0.71% internationally.
↓35% vs intl.
Stroke
0.15% at VGHPE vs 0.23% internationally.

Full Complication Profile

VGHPE vs International Literature
Complication VGHPE International Difference
Mortality0%0.15%—
Pneumothorax0%0.09%—
Hemothorax0%0.02%—
Sepsis / abscess / endocarditis0%0.01%—
Permanent diaphragmatic paralysis0%0.17%—
Femoral pseudoaneurysm1.07%0.93%↑15%
Arteriovenous fistula0.61%0.54%↑13%
Valve injury requiring surgery0%0.07%—
Atrio-esophageal fistula0%0.04%—
TIA0.30%0.71%↓58%
PV stenosis (requiring treatment)0%0.29%—
05 · Global Impact

From Taipei to the world.

Discovery & Foundation

Discovery of Non-PV AF Triggers

From landmark discoveries to the world’s first AF ablation textbook. Established the scientific foundation for modern AF ablation and the Taipei Approach.

Guidelines & Standards

Shaping Global AF Standards

Contributed to international AF guidelines and major electrophysiology textbooks.

37 textbooks · 3 guideline editions
Education & Training

Training the Next Generation

Built one of Asia’s largest international electrophysiology training networks.

500+ specialists · 19 countries · 72 centers
Global Demonstration

Advancing AF Ablation Worldwide

Invited globally to demonstrate AF ablation techniques and support local AF program development.

Mayo Clinic · Johns Hopkins · 20+ countries
06 · Partnership

Connect with VGHPE.

Open to hospitals, research institutes, and cardiology teams worldwide. Describe your interest — we match you to the right programme within five business days.

AF Research Network collaboration
Physician training & fellowship
AF Program Development
Technology & Innovation
International Patient Care pathways
Cooperation type

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