Electrogram-guided substrate ablation with or without pulmonary vein isolation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.
OBJECTIVE
Ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) is a new approach for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose of the study was to assess the efficacy of CFAE ablation as a stand-alone strategy in patients with persistent AF and to compare it with a combined approach of CFAE ablation and pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).


RESULTS
The study included 77 consecutive patients with persistent AF who underwent radiofrequency (RF) ablation of CFAE as a sole ablation procedure (CFAE group, n = 23 patients) or a combined approach of CFAE ablation and PVI (CFAE plus PVI group, n = 54 patients). Procedures were guided by three-dimensional mapping systems. After the procedure, AF recurrences were evaluated with 7-day Holter recordings at 1, 3, and 6 months and every 6 months thereafter. Treatment failure was defined as >or=1 AF episode lasting >30 s on Holter recordings during follow-up. After a mean follow-up time of 13 +/- 10 months, 2 of 23 patients (9%) with CFAE ablation and 22 of 54 patients (41%) with CFAE plus PVI were in sinus rhythm after a single ablation procedure without anti-arrhythmic medication (P = 0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Ablation of CFAE as a stand-alone ablation strategy seems insufficient for the treatment of patients with persistent AF. Pulmonary vein isolation plus CFAE ablation significantly increases the mid-term success rate.
Estner
Heidi Luise
HL
Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany. estner@dhm.mhn.de
Hessling
Gabriele
G
Ndrepepa
Gjin
G
Wu
Jinjin
J
Reents
Tilko
T
Fichtner
Stefanie
S
Schmitt
Claus
C
Bary
Christian V
CV
Kolb
Christof
C
Karch
Martin
M
Zrenner
Bernhard
B
Deisenhofer
Isabel
I