BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) involves extensive radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the left atrium (LA) around the pulmonary veins. The effect of this therapy on LA function is not fully characterized. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether catheter ablation of AF is associated with a change in LA function. METHODS: LA and right atrial (RA) systolic function was assessed in 33 consecutive patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF referred for ablation using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. Steady-state free precession ECG cine CMR imaging was performed before and after (mean 48 days) AF ablation. All patients underwent circumferential pulmonary vein isolation using an 8-mm tip RFA catheter. High spatial resolution late gadolinium enhancement CMR images of LA scar were obtained in 16 patients. RESULTS: Maximum LA volume decreased by 15% (P <.001), and LA ejection fraction decreased by 14% (P <.001) after AF ablation. Maximum RA volume decreased by 13% (P = .018), but RA ejection fraction increased by 5% (P = .008). Mean LA scar volume was 8.1 +/- 3.7 mL. A linear correlation was observed between change in LA ejection fraction and scar volume (r = -0.75, P <.001). CONCLUSION: Catheter ablation of AF is associated with decreased LA size and reduced atrial systolic function. This change strongly correlates with the volume of LA scar. This finding may have implications for postprocedural thromboembolic risk and for procedures involving more extensive RFA.
BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) involves extensive radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the left atrium (LA) around the pulmonary veins. The effect of this therapy on LA function is not fully characterized. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether catheter ablation of AF is associated with a change in LA function. METHODS: LA and right atrial (RA) systolic function was assessed in 33 consecutive patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF referred for ablation using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. Steady-state free precession ECG cine CMR imaging was performed before and after (mean 48 days) AF ablation. All patients underwent circumferential pulmonary vein isolation using an 8-mm tip RFA catheter. High spatial resolution late gadolinium enhancement CMR images of LA scar were obtained in 16 patients. RESULTS: Maximum LA volume decreased by 15% (P <.001), and LA ejection fraction decreased by 14% (P <.001) after AF ablation. Maximum RA volume decreased by 13% (P = .018), but RA ejection fraction increased by 5% (P = .008). Mean LA scar volume was 8.1 +/- 3.7 mL. A linear correlation was observed between change in LA ejection fraction and scar volume (r = -0.75, P <.001). CONCLUSION: Catheter ablation of AF is associated with decreased LA size and reduced atrial systolic function. This change strongly correlates with the volume of LA scar. This finding may have implications for postprocedural thromboembolic risk and for procedures involving more extensive RFA.
Authors: Kai Muellerleile; Michael Groth; Dennis Saring; Daniel Steven; Arian Sultan; Imke Drewitz; Boris Hoffmann; Jakob Lueker; Gerhard Adam; Gunnar K Lund; Stephan Willems; Thomas Rostock Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2012-04-27 Impact factor: 5.315
Authors: Ehud J Schmidt; Maggie M Fung; Pelin Aksit Ciris; Ting Song; Ajit Shankaranarayanan; Godtfred Holmvang; Sandeep N Gupta; Miguel Chaput; Robert A Levine; Jeremy Ruskin; Vivek Y Reddy; Andre D'avila; Anthony H Aletras; Stephan B Danik Journal: Europace Date: 2013-09-06 Impact factor: 5.214
Authors: Dana C Peters; John V Wylie; Thomas H Hauser; Reza Nezafat; Yuchi Han; Jeong Joo Woo; Jason Taclas; Kraig V Kissinger; Beth Goddu; Mark E Josephson; Warren J Manning Journal: JACC Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2009-03
Authors: Christian B Moyer; Patrick A Helm; Christopher J Clarke; Loren P Budge; Christopher M Kramer; John D Ferguson; Patrick T Norton; Jeffrey W Holmes Journal: IEEE Trans Med Imaging Date: 2013-05-20 Impact factor: 10.048