Duel of ablation catheters: which wins for persistent AF?

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Symptomatic AF (EHRA symptom class ≥ II) * Documented persistent AF (continuous AF for \> 7 days and \< 365 days), confirmed within 180 days of enrollment by either a 24-hour Holter recording showing continuous AF, or two ECGs from any regulatory-cleared rhythm monitoring device, taken at least 7 days apart, showing continuous AF * Patients considered eligible for catheter ablation (either refractory/intolerant to ≥1 Class I/III AAD or presenting for first-line ablation per clinical discretion) * Willing and capable of undergoing insertable loop recorder (ILR) implantation at the index procedure and maintaining the conditions required for automatic remote transmission throughout the 12-month study period * Willing and capable of participating in all follow-up assessments and testing associated with this clinical investigation at an approved clinical investigational center Exclusion Criteria: Anatomical and procedural exclusions * Previous catheter or surgical ablation, except right-sided atrial ablation for supraventricular tachycardia or cavotricuspid isthmus ablation for atrial flutter * Severe left atrial enlargement: left atrial anteroposterior diameter ≥55 mm or LAVI \>50 mL/m2 * Left atrial or left atrial appendage (LA/LAA) thrombus * Prior pulmonary vein intervention, pulmonary vein stenting, or known severe pulmonary vein stenosis * Presence of an interatrial baffle, ASD/PFO closure device, or surgical patch that, in the investigator's judgment, precludes safe transseptal access Cardiovascular exclusions * New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III or IV * Recent acute coronary syndrome, coronary revascularization, cardiac surgery, stroke, or transient ischemic attack within the preceding 90 days * Severe valvular heart disease or prosthetic heart valve/annuloplasty ring * History of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). * Atrial fibrillation secondary to reversible non-cardiac causes. Other exclusions * Presence of an insertable cardiac device (pacemaker, ICD, CRT, or pre-existing non-study ILR) * Contraindication or intolerance to therapeutic systemic anticoagulation * Documented baseline hemi-diaphragmatic paresis or paralysis * Inability, unwillingness, or anatomical contraindication (e.g., implant-site skin or soft-tissue pathology, prior radiation, or chest-wall deformity) to undergo ILR implantation * Severe renal impairment: eGFR\<30 mL/min/1.73 m2 or current/prior renal replacement therapy * Pregnancy or planned pregnancy during the 12-month trial window * Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent or complete 12 months of trial follow-up