Qing-Hui Tang1, Xiao-Gang Guo1, Jian Ma2. 1. Arrhythmia Center, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Bei Li Shi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, China. 2. Arrhythmia Center, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Bei Li Shi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, China. majian_fuwai@126.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein (PV) reconnection after radiofrequency (RFC) or cryoballoon (CB) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is common. METHOD: We report a single-center experience of 156 patients who underwent a redo procedure-ablation strategy for recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) in a reverse sequence after a failed index RFC or CB PVI. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients after index CB PVI underwent RFC-redo ablation (CB-RFC redo), and 96 patients after index RFC PVI underwent CB-redo ablation (RFC-CB redo). During the redo procedure, the proportion of patients with PV reconnection was lower after index CB PVI procedure compared with the proportion of patients after index RFC PVI (88.3% versus 98.9%, p = 0.01). Additionally, a mean number of 1.50 ± 0.8 PVs/patient were reconnected after index CB PVI, compared with 3.36 ± 0.9 PVs/patient after index RFC PVI (p = 0.001). Patients after index RFC PVI frequently presented with ≥ 3 reconnected PVs, compared with index CB PVI (70.8% vs 10%, p < 0.001). At a 2-year follow-up, 43 patients (27.6%) developed recurrence after redo ablation, with a similar AF-free outcome (CB-RFC redo:73.3% vs RFC-CB redo: 71.9%, p = 0.873). In the multivariate analysis, persistent AF (HR = 2.107, 95% CI: 1.085-4.091, p = 0.028) and early AF recurrence after the initial ablation (HR = 2.431, 95% CI: 1.279-4.618, p = 0.007) were independent predictors of AF recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The extent and distribution of PV reconnections were different after index RFC and CB PVI procedures. Alternating CB or RFC ablation technique strategy is effective with a similar long-term outcome, and it may be an appropriate option for repeated AF ablation.
BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein (PV) reconnection after radiofrequency (RFC) or cryoballoon (CB) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is common. METHOD: We report a single-center experience of 156 patients who underwent a redo procedure-ablation strategy for recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) in a reverse sequence after a failed index RFC or CB PVI. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients after index CB PVI underwent RFC-redo ablation (CB-RFC redo), and 96 patients after index RFC PVI underwent CB-redo ablation (RFC-CB redo). During the redo procedure, the proportion of patients with PV reconnection was lower after index CB PVI procedure compared with the proportion of patients after index RFC PVI (88.3% versus 98.9%, p = 0.01). Additionally, a mean number of 1.50 ± 0.8 PVs/patient were reconnected after index CB PVI, compared with 3.36 ± 0.9 PVs/patient after index RFC PVI (p = 0.001). Patients after index RFC PVI frequently presented with ≥ 3 reconnected PVs, compared with index CB PVI (70.8% vs 10%, p < 0.001). At a 2-year follow-up, 43 patients (27.6%) developed recurrence after redo ablation, with a similar AF-free outcome (CB-RFC redo:73.3% vs RFC-CB redo: 71.9%, p = 0.873). In the multivariate analysis, persistent AF (HR = 2.107, 95% CI: 1.085-4.091, p = 0.028) and early AF recurrence after the initial ablation (HR = 2.431, 95% CI: 1.279-4.618, p = 0.007) were independent predictors of AF recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The extent and distribution of PV reconnections were different after index RFC and CB PVI procedures. Alternating CB or RFC ablation technique strategy is effective with a similar long-term outcome, and it may be an appropriate option for repeated AF ablation.
Authors: Andrzej Glowniak; Adam Tarkowski; Piotr Fic; Katarzyna Wojewoda; Jaroslaw Wojcik; Andrzej Wysokinski Journal: J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol Date: 2019-04-15