Predictors of successful catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation using the pulmonary vein isolation technique.
OBJECTIVE
Pulmonary vein isolation has been performed to cure atrial fibrillation (Af). However, the recurrence rate of Af is relatively high, and additional sessions are sometimes required. The predictors of successful pulmonary vein isolation were evaluated.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 52 patients (41 men, mean age 55 +/- 9 years) with Af who underwent pulmonary vein isolation. A second session was required in 22 patients with recurrence of Af after the first session. Pulmonary vein isolation eliminated Af in 38 patients after 1 or 2 sessions. Patients with successful pulmonary vein isolation (n = 39) were compared with those with unsuccessful pulmonary vein isolation despite 2 sessions (n = 13).


RESULTS
The patients in the successful group had significantly higher incidence of paroxysmal Af (92% vs 46%, p < 0.001) and lower incidence of mitral regurgitation (10% vs 46%, p < 0.01) than those in the unsuccessful group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to age, history of Af, cardiopulmonary ratio, dimension of left atrium, ejection fraction, pulmonary vein diameter, and pulmonary vein number.


CONCLUSIONS
Type of Af and presence of mitral regurgitation are significant predictors of successful pulmonary vein isolation.
Yasuda
Tomoo
T
Department of Cardiology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Fukuoka.
Kumagai
Koichiro
K
Ogawa
Masahiro
M
Noguchi
Hiroo
H
Tojo
Hideaki
H
Matsumoto
Naomichi
N
Saku
Keijiro
K
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D055502:Secondary Prevention