AIMS: Early recurrences of atrial arrhythmia after wide electrically isolating ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) are well described, but the long-term risk of recurrence for patients with persistent and permanent AF has not been studied in detail. METHODS AND RESULTS Fifty-six consecutive patients [45 men (80.4%), age 55.9 +/- 8.7 years] with persistent [39(69.6%)] or permanent [17(30.4%)] AF were followed for 21.6 +/- 8.8 months after ablation. Atrial fibrillation duration prior to ablation was 6.4 +/- 5.6 years. Electrically isolating lesions encircling the left and right pulmonary veins (PVs) in pairs were created. After 1.5 +/- 0.7 procedures, 48 (85.7%) had sinus rhythm (SR) at 21.6 +/- 8.8 months of follow-up: achieved with 1 procedure in 27 (56.3%) and without anti-arrhythmics in 30 (62.5%). Atrial fibrillation recurrence was observed in 69.6% after the first and 46.4% after the last procedure. Of those with late recurrences (>90 days) following the last procedure, most [18 (69.2%)] did not have early recurrences. Pre-procedural AF duration (P = 0.007) and female gender (P = 0.005) were independent predictors of recurrence following the last procedure. CONCLUSION: Circumferential PV isolation is effective in most patients with persistent or permanent AF. However, repeat procedures are frequently required. Late recurrences are common and not precluded by the absence of early post-procedural arrhythmias.
AIMS: Early recurrences of atrial arrhythmia after wide electrically isolating ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) are well described, but the long-term risk of recurrence for patients with persistent and permanent AF has not been studied in detail. METHODS AND RESULTS Fifty-six consecutive patients [45 men (80.4%), age 55.9 +/- 8.7 years] with persistent [39(69.6%)] or permanent [17(30.4%)] AF were followed for 21.6 +/- 8.8 months after ablation. Atrial fibrillation duration prior to ablation was 6.4 +/- 5.6 years. Electrically isolating lesions encircling the left and right pulmonary veins (PVs) in pairs were created. After 1.5 +/- 0.7 procedures, 48 (85.7%) had sinus rhythm (SR) at 21.6 +/- 8.8 months of follow-up: achieved with 1 procedure in 27 (56.3%) and without anti-arrhythmics in 30 (62.5%). Atrial fibrillation recurrence was observed in 69.6% after the first and 46.4% after the last procedure. Of those with late recurrences (>90 days) following the last procedure, most [18 (69.2%)] did not have early recurrences. Pre-procedural AF duration (P = 0.007) and female gender (P = 0.005) were independent predictors of recurrence following the last procedure. CONCLUSION: Circumferential PV isolation is effective in most patients with persistent or permanent AF. However, repeat procedures are frequently required. Late recurrences are common and not precluded by the absence of early post-procedural arrhythmias.
Authors: Thomas Deneke; Anja Schade; Joachim Krug; Karsten Stahl; Geza Atilla Szollosi; Dong In Shin; Clemens Nino Schukro; Mohamed El Tarahony; Enrique Murillo; Semko Aram; Gabriele Robhirt; Thomas Lawo; Andreas Mugge; Peter H Grewe; Sebastian Kerber Journal: J Atr Fibrillation Date: 2012-02-02
Authors: Markus Linhart; Thorsten Lewalter; Erica L Mittmann-Braun; Nicole C Karbach; René P Andrié; Christoph Hammerstingl; Rolf Fimmers; Jens Kreuz; Georg Nickenig; Jan W Schrickel; Lars M Lickfett Journal: J Interv Card Electrophysiol Date: 2013-06-23 Impact factor: 1.900
Authors: Michał Peller; Piotr Lodziński; Paweł Balsam; Kacper Maciejewski; Krzysztof Ozierański; Bartosz Krzowski; Grzegorz Opolski Journal: J Arrhythm Date: 2020-09-02