Restoration of atrial mechanical function after successful radio-frequency catheter ablation of atrial flutter.
BACKGROUND
Atrial mechanical dysfunction and its recovery time course after successful radiofrequency ablation of chronic atrial flutter (AFL) has been largely unknown. We serially evaluated left atrial function by echocardiography after successful ablation of chronic atrial flutter.


METHODS
In 13 patients with chronic AFL, mitral E wave A wave, and the ratio of A/E velocity were measured at 1 day, 1 month, 3 months and 6-12 months after successful radiofrequency (RF) ablation. Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) technique was also used to avoid load-dependent variation in the flow velocity pattern.


RESULTS
Left atrial mechanical function, assessed by A wave velocity and the annular motion, was depressed at 1 day, but improved significantly at 1 month and maintained through 6-12 months after the ablation. Left atrial size did not change significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Left atrial mechanical function was depressed immediately after successful RF ablation of chronic AFL, but it improved significantly after 1 month and was maintained over one year.
Rhee
K S
KS
Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kang
D H
DH
Song
J K
JK
Nam
G B
GB
Choi
K J
KJ
Kim
Y H
YH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D016275:Atrial Function; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome