Acute and long-term effects of atrioventricular junction ablation and VVIR pacemaker in symptomatic patients with chronic lone atrial fibrillation and normal ventricular response.
BACKGROUND
The precise role of irregular ventricular response in atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been fully elucidated. This study examined the independent effects of rhythm regularity in patients with chronic AF.


RESULTS
This study included 50 patients who had chronic lone AF and a normal ventricular rate. Among these patients, 21 who underwent AV junction ablation and implantation of a VVIR pacemaker constituted the ablation group; the other 29 patients were the medical group. Acute hemodynamic findings were measured in 21 ablation patients before ablation (during AF, baseline) and 15 minutes after ablation (during right ventricular pacing). Compared with baseline data, ablation and pacing therapy increased cardiac output (4.7 +/- 0.8 vs 5.2 +/- 0.9 L/min; P = 0.05), decreased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (16 +/- 5 vs 13 +/- 4 mmHg; P = 0.001), and decreased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (14 +/- 4 vs 11 +/- 3 mmHg; P < 0.05). After 12 months, the ablation group patients showed lower scores in general quality of life (-20%; P < 0.001), overall symptoms (-24%; P < 0.001), overall activity scale (-23%; P = 0.004), and significant increase of left ventricular ejection fraction (44% +/- 6% vs 49% +/- 5%; P = 0.02) by echocardiographic examination.


CONCLUSIONS
AV junction ablation and pacing in patients with chronic AF and normal ventricular response may confer acute and long-term benefits beyond rate control by eliminating rhythm irregularity.
Ueng
K C
KC
Division of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chung-Shan Medical and Dental College Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. ueng@ms1.tisnet.net.tw
Tsai
T P
TP
Tsai
C F
CF
Wu
D J
DJ
Lin
C S
CS
Lee
S H
SH
Chen
S A
SA
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000601:surgery*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016276:Ventricular Function
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents