title: [Circumferential isolation of pulmonary veins with transcatheter radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Cardiologia, Ospedale Civile, Mirano, VE. ulss13mirano.elettrofisiologia@wind.it.net
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertaglia
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scarabeo
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zoppo
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zerio
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pellizzari
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zerbo
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Este
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pascotto
mesh_terms: 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*