Electrophysiological pulmonary vein antrum isolation with a multielectrode basket catheter is feasible and effective for curing paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: efficacy of minimally extensive pulmonary vein isolation.
BACKGROUND
How extensive should an appropriate pulmonary vein (PV) ablation be is a matter of controversy.


OBJECTIVE
The study's aim was to investigate the efficacy of minimally extensive PV ablation for isolating the PV antrum (PVA) with the guidance of electrophysiological parameters.


METHODS
Fifty-five consecutive symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients underwent PV mapping with a multielectrode basket catheter (MBC). A 31-mm MBC was deployed in 3-4 PVs as proximally as possible without dislodgement, and the longitudinal PV mapping enabled us to recognize single sharp potentials formed by the total fusion of the PV and left atrial potentials around the PV ostium or the transverse activation patterns that were observed. Those potentials were defined as PVA potentials. Radiofrequency ablation was performed circumferentially targeting PVA potentials with the end point being their elimination.


RESULTS
After circumferential PVA ablation, electrical disconnection was achieved in 77% and residual PVA conduction gaps were observed in 23% of all targeted PVs. Those residual conduction gaps were mainly located at the border between ipsilateral PVs (42%) and between the left PVs and left atrial appendage (33%) and were eliminated by a mean of 3 +/- 2 minutes of local radiofrequency deliveries. During the follow-up period (11 +/- 5 months), 46 (84%) patients were free of symptomatic PAF without any anti-arrhythmic drugs. No PV stenosis or spontaneous left atrial flutter occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Electrophysiological PVA ablation with an MBC is feasible and effective for curing PAF because this minimally extensive PVA isolation technique targets the optimal sites, achieving both high efficacy and safety.
Division of Cardiology, Aichi Prefectural Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Ichinomiya, Japan. takumi-y@fb4.so-net.ne.jp
Takumi
T
Yamada
Yoshimasa
Y
Murakami
Taro
T
Okada
Mitsuhiro
M
Okamoto
Takeshi
T
Shimizu
Junji
J
Toyama
Yukihiko
Y
Yoshida
Naoya
N
Tsuboi
Teruo
T
Ito
Masahiro
M
Muto
Takahisa
T
Kondo
Yasuya
Y
Inden
Makoto
M
Hirai
Toyoaki
T
Murohara
D000368:Aged; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome