Recurrence of left atrium-pulmonary vein conduction following successful disconnection in asymptomatic patients.
BACKGROUND
The clinical significance of conduction recurrences in isolated pulmonary veins of patients with atrial fibrillation is not established.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients with paoxysmal atrial fibrillation underwent successful pulmonary vein isolation. Six months after the procedure, 14 patients were free of atrial fibrillation. Two of these patients were subjected to repeat mapping of the left superior pulmonary vein.


RESULTS
There was recurrence of pulmonary vein to left atrium conduction despite complete lack of symptoms or evidence of recurrent atrial fibrillation.


CONCLUSIONS
Successful pulmonary vein isolation with abolition of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation does not confer permanent disconnection of the pulmonary vein musculature from the left atrium.
Katritsis
Demosthenes
D
Department of Cardiology, Athens Euroclinic, 9 Athanassiadou Street, Athens 11521, Greece. dkatrits@otenet.gr
Ellenbogen
Kenneth A
KA
Camm
A John
AJ
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome