Giacomo Mugnai1,2, Federico Cecchini3,4, Carlo de Asmundis3, Gian-Battista Chierchia3, Erwin Stroker3, Gaetano Paparella3, Saverio Iacopino3, Juan Sieira3, Yves De Greef4, Luca Tomasi5, Bruna Bolzan5, Gezim Bala3, Ingrid Overeinder3, Alexandre Almorad3, Anais Gauthey3, Antonio Sorgente3, Flavio Luciano Ribichini5. 1. Heart Rhythm Management Center, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel-Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. mugnai.giacomo@gmail.com. 2. Electrophysiology and Cardiac Pacing, Division of Cardiology, Cardio-Thoracic Department, School of Medicine, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy. mugnai.giacomo@gmail.com. 3. Heart Rhythm Management Center, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel-Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. 4. Electrophysiology Unit, ZNA Middelheim, Antwerp, Belgium. 5. Electrophysiology and Cardiac Pacing, Division of Cardiology, Cardio-Thoracic Department, School of Medicine, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The second-generation cryoballoon (CB) has proven to be a highly effective ablative strategy in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). This study sought to investigate the anatomical characteristics of pulmonary veins (PVs) and the relationship between their size, ovality, and late reconnections in a large cohort of patients undergoing repeat ablation for recurrence of atrial arrhythmias. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 152 consecutive patients (98 males, 64.5%; mean age 64.9 ± 9.6 years) underwent a repeat ablation for recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias after a median time of 6.5 months [IQR 11] from the index CB ablation. All repeat ablations were performed using a 3-dimensional electro-anatomical mapping system. Among all 593 PVs, 134 (22.6%) showed a late PV reconnection in 95 patients (0.88 per patient), at the time of repeat ablation procedure. There was a significant difference in ovality between left- and right-sided PVs (p < 0.001). Greater diameters of left superior PV, left inferior PV, and right inferior PV ostia (both maximum and minimum) and higher index ovality were significantly associated with late PV reconnection. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of late PV reconnection after CB ablation was low (0.88 PVs/patient). Left-sided PVs were more oval than septal PVs. Larger PV dimensions and higher ovality index were significantly associated with reconnections in all PVs except for RSPV.
BACKGROUND: The second-generation cryoballoon (CB) has proven to be a highly effective ablative strategy in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). This study sought to investigate the anatomical characteristics of pulmonary veins (PVs) and the relationship between their size, ovality, and late reconnections in a large cohort of patients undergoing repeat ablation for recurrence of atrial arrhythmias. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 152 consecutive patients (98 males, 64.5%; mean age 64.9 ± 9.6 years) underwent a repeat ablation for recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias after a median time of 6.5 months [IQR 11] from the index CB ablation. All repeat ablations were performed using a 3-dimensional electro-anatomical mapping system. Among all 593 PVs, 134 (22.6%) showed a late PV reconnection in 95 patients (0.88 per patient), at the time of repeat ablation procedure. There was a significant difference in ovality between left- and right-sided PVs (p < 0.001). Greater diameters of left superior PV, left inferior PV, and right inferior PV ostia (both maximum and minimum) and higher index ovality were significantly associated with late PV reconnection. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of late PV reconnection after CB ablation was low (0.88 PVs/patient). Left-sided PVs were more oval than septal PVs. Larger PV dimensions and higher ovality index were significantly associated with reconnections in all PVs except for RSPV.