Randomized study comparing combined pulmonary vein-left atrial junction disconnection and cavotricuspid isthmus ablation versus pulmonary vein-left atrial junction disconnection alone in patients presenting with typical atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation.
BACKGROUND
Atrial flutter (AFL) and atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently coexist in the same patient. Recently it has been demonstrated that the triggers for both AF and AFL may originate in the pulmonary veins (PVs). We hypothesized that in patients with both AF and typical AFL, pulmonary vein-left atrial junction (PV-LAJ) disconnection may eliminate both arrhythmias.


RESULTS
Consecutive patients with documented symptomatic AF and typical AFL were randomly assigned to have PV-LAJ disconnection combined with cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation (group 1, n=49) or PV-LAJ disconnection alone (group 2, n=59). Within the first 8 weeks after ablation, 32 of the group 2 patients had typical AFL documented, whereas none was seen in group 1. Twenty of these 32 converted to sinus rhythm after initiating antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs). Twelve were cardioverted, and AADs were started. After 8 weeks, all AADS were stopped, and only 3 patients continued to have recurrent sustained typical AFL that was eliminated by CTI ablation. Beyond 8 weeks of follow-up, 7 patients in group 1 and 6 patients in group 2 (14% and 11%, respectively) continued to have AF. Ten of these 13 patients underwent a repeat PV-LAJ disconnection procedure and were cured. The remaining 3 remained in normal sinus rhythm while taking AADs.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with both AFL and AF, PV-LAJ disconnection alone may be sufficient to control both arrhythmias. CTI block reduced early postablation recurrence of arrhythmias, which in the majority of patients reflects a short-term clinical problem.
Wazni
Oussama
O
Center for Atrial Fibrillation, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Marrouche
Nassir F
NF
Martin
David O
DO
Gillinov
A Marc
AM
Saliba
Walid
W
Saad
Eduardo
E
Klein
Allan
A
Bhargava
Mandeep
M
Bash
Dianna
D
Schweikert
Robert
R
Erciyes
Demet
D
Abdul-Karim
Ahmad
A
Brachman
Johannes
J
Gunther
Jens
J
Pisano
Ennio
E
Potenza
Domenico
D
Fanelli
Raffaele
R
Natale
Andrea
A
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents