[Circumferential isolation of pulmonary veins with transcatheter radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation].
BACKGROUND
Circumferential anatomical isolation of the pulmonary veins by radiofrequency transcatheter ablation is a new technique for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of circumferential radiofrequency ablation of the pulmonary veins and to analyze clinical, echocardiographic and procedural parameters as possible predictors of clinical success.


METHODS
We performed circumferential isolation of the pulmonary veins in 33 patients with paroxysmal (15 patients) or persistent AF (18 patients) refractory to at least two antiarrhythmic drugs. All patients continued antiarrhythmic therapy after the procedure for at least 12 months.


RESULTS
At the end of the follow-up (mean 13.7 +/- 5.1 months) 70% of the patients resulted responders to the ablation, with no differences between patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF. Complications were observed in 3% of patients. Among clinical, echocardiographic and procedural parameters analyzed none turned out to be predictor of clinical success.


CONCLUSIONS
Circumferential isolation of the pulmonary veins by radiofrequency transcatheter ablation associated with antiarrhythmic drugs was efficacious in 70% of patients with either paroxysmal or persistent AF. None of the analyzed variables predicted clinical success.
Bertaglia
Emanuele
E
Dipartimento di Cardiologia, Ospedale Civile, Mirano, VE. ulss13mirano.elettrofisiologia@wind.it.net
Scarabeo
Virginia
V
Zoppo
Franco
F
Zerio
Claudio
C
Pellizzari
Nicola
N
Zerbo
Francesca
F
D'Este
Daniele
D
Pascotto
Pietro
P
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*