Termination of persistent atrial fibrillation resistant to cardioversion by a single radiofrequency application.
This report describes the termination of persistent AF refractory to multiple cardioversions and antiarrhythmic therapy in a patient without structural heart disease, with a single radiofrequency application delivered in the left upper pulmonary vein. The observations and failure of repeated internal and external cardioversion suggest a rapidly firing arrhythmia focus sustaining atrial fibrillation amenable to curative pulmonary vein ablation.
Herweg
Bengt
B
Arrhythmia Service, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10025, USA.
Kowalski
Marcin
M
Steinberg
Jonathan S
JS
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004554:Electric Countershock; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography