title: [Catheter ablation of chronic atrial fibrillation using circumferential and complex linear lesions in the left atrium: modes of arrhythmia termination and long-term clinical outcome].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the article is to present the method and results of catheter ablation for chronic atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Catheter ablation for chronic atrial fibrillation was performed in 82 patients (18 females, aged 54 +/- 10 years), in 112 ablation procedures. Mean duration of the chronic phase of atrial fibrillation was 28 +/- 28 months. Before ablation, amiodarone was administered without effect to 74 (90%) patients, and was counter-indicated in 8 (10%) patients. Ablation strategy consisted of circumferential lesions around the pulmonary veins and of complex linear lesions in the left atrium. Full pulmonary vein antra isolation, and sinus rhythm restoration, or at least converting atrial fibrillation into the left atrial tachycardia, were the procedure end points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sinus rhythm was restored by ablation at least in one of the ablation procedures in 43 (52%) patients. During the follow-up period spanning 17.3 +/- 11.6 months after the last ablation, stable sinus rhythm was achieved in 63 (77%) patients, of whom 38 (60%) had their sinus rhythm restored by ablation and another 14 (22%) their atrial fibrillation converted into the left atrial tachycardia. Of the 63 patients with stable sinus rhythm, class I or III antiarrhythmic medication has been maintained in 21 (33%) patients, and amiodarone has been taken by 13 (21%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Catheter ablation of chronic atrial fibrillation is potentially highly effective in long-term restoration of sinus rhythm.
authors.affiliation: Oddĕlení kardiologie, Nemocnice Podlesí a.s., Trinec. martin.fiala@nempodlesi.cz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiala
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chovancík
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neuwirth
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nevralová
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jiravský
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Szymeczek
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wojnarová
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moravec
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sknouril
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dorda
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Januska
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nykl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cerný
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Branny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged