title: Impact on ventricular function and quality of life of transcatheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction in chronic atrial fibrillation with a normal ventricular response.
abstract: We assessed left ventricular function and quality of life after atrioventricular junction ablation and pacemaker implant in 14 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation and normal ventricular response. A significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and functional capacity were observed at follow-up, suggesting that in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation a regular heart beat may be preferable over rate control.
authors.affiliation: VA Medical Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27705, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Natale
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zimerman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tomassoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kearney
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brandon
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Newby
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left