OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the long-term results of ablation for sustained focal atrial tachycardia in patients with and without a history of atrial fibrillation. METHODS: A history of atrial fibrillation was documented in 25 of 111 patients (23%) with focal atrial tachycardias. We studied the results of focal ablation during a follow-up of 27 +/- 22 months. RESULTS: Enlargement of left atrium (Odds ratio 2.99) and septal origin of the atrial focus (Odds ratio 5.68) were independent predictors of coexisting atrial fibrillation. Patients with a septal origin of the focal atrial tachycardia were older (62 vs. 54 years) and had a higher rate of structural heart disease than patients with a non-septal site of origin (51 vs. 29%). A higher rate of atrial fibrillation was found in patients with anteroseptal (56%), midseptal (50%) and posteroseptal (36%) atrial tachycardias than in patients with focal atrial tachycardias arising from the crista terminalis (9%), the tricuspid (12%) and mitral annulus (0%), the ostia of thoracic veins (17%) and other right atrial (27%) and left atrial free wall sites (10%). During the follow-up, atrial fibrillation was documented in 3% of patients without preexisting atrial fibrillation. In patients with focal atrial tachycardia and a history of atrial fibrillation, at least one episode of atrial fibrillation was documented during follow-up in 64% of patients, but 60% of patients reported marked symptomatic improvement. CONCLUSION: An increased rate of coexisting atrial fibrillation was found in patients with a septal origin of focal atrial tachycardia. Ablation of the focal atrial tachycardia may eliminate both arrhythmias, but patients with a history of atrial fibrillation may still be prone to recurrences of atrial fibrillation after focal ablation.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the long-term results of ablation for sustained focal atrial tachycardia in patients with and without a history of atrial fibrillation. METHODS: A history of atrial fibrillation was documented in 25 of 111 patients (23%) with focal atrial tachycardias. We studied the results of focal ablation during a follow-up of 27 +/- 22 months. RESULTS: Enlargement of left atrium (Odds ratio 2.99) and septal origin of the atrial focus (Odds ratio 5.68) were independent predictors of coexisting atrial fibrillation. Patients with a septal origin of the focal atrial tachycardia were older (62 vs. 54 years) and had a higher rate of structural heart disease than patients with a non-septal site of origin (51 vs. 29%). A higher rate of atrial fibrillation was found in patients with anteroseptal (56%), midseptal (50%) and posteroseptal (36%) atrial tachycardias than in patients with focal atrial tachycardias arising from the crista terminalis (9%), the tricuspid (12%) and mitral annulus (0%), the ostia of thoracic veins (17%) and other right atrial (27%) and left atrial free wall sites (10%). During the follow-up, atrial fibrillation was documented in 3% of patients without preexisting atrial fibrillation. In patients with focal atrial tachycardia and a history of atrial fibrillation, at least one episode of atrial fibrillation was documented during follow-up in 64% of patients, but 60% of patients reported marked symptomatic improvement. CONCLUSION: An increased rate of coexisting atrial fibrillation was found in patients with a septal origin of focal atrial tachycardia. Ablation of the focal atrial tachycardia may eliminate both arrhythmias, but patients with a history of atrial fibrillation may still be prone to recurrences of atrial fibrillation after focal ablation.
Authors: M Haïssaguerre; P Jaïs; D C Shah; S Garrigue; A Takahashi; T Lavergne; M Hocini; J T Peng; R Roudaut; J Clémenty Journal: Circulation Date: 2000-03-28 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: C C Chen; C T Tai; C E Chiang; W C Yu; S H Lee; Y J Chen; M H Hsieh; C F Tsai; K W Lee; Y A Ding; M S Chang; S A Chen Journal: J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol Date: 2000-07
Authors: Hakan Oral; Bradley P Knight; Hiroshi Tada; Mehmet Ozaydin; Aman Chugh; Sohail Hassan; Christoph Scharf; Steve W K Lai; Radmira Greenstein; Frank Pelosi; S Adam Strickberger; Fred Morady Journal: Circulation Date: 2002-03-05 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Nassir F Marrouche; Thomas Dresing; Christopher Cole; Dianna Bash; Eduardo Saad; Krzysztof Balaban; Stephen V Pavia; Robert Schweikert; Walid Saliba; Ahmed Abdul-Karim; Ennio Pisano; Raffaele Fanelli; Patrick Tchou; Andrea Natale Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 2002-08-07 Impact factor: 24.094
Authors: M D Lesh; G F Van Hare; L M Epstein; A P Fitzpatrick; M M Scheinman; R J Lee; M A Kwasman; H R Grogin; J C Griffin Journal: Circulation Date: 1994-03 Impact factor: 29.690