title: Effect of atrial fibrillation ablation on left atrial contractile function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and a relatively well preserved atrial function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are inconsistent findings regarding the impact of ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) on left atrial (LA) contractile function. We investigated the ablation effect on LA function in patients with paroxysmal AF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred eighty-nine patients (mean age 56 +/- 9 years) underwent catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF. Transthoracic (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were performed at baseline and at 6 and 12 months after ablation for assessment of LA diameter, left atrial appendage emptying velocity (LAAEV), and A-wave peak velocity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LA function before ablation was relatively well preserved (LAAEV 54 +/- 19 cm/s, A-wave 59 +/- 23 cm/s). During follow-up, there was no significant change of LAAEV: from 54 +/- 19 cm/s at baseline to 54 +/- 18 at 6 months and 52 +/- 20 cm/s at 12 months (P = ns).The LA diameter at baseline was 4.2 +/- 0.6 cm and showed no significant change at 6 and 12 months (4.1 +/- 0.6 and 4.1 +/- 0.5 cm, P = ns). There was also no change of the A-wave (59 +/- 23 cm/s before ablation, 59 +/- 27 cm/s at 6 months and 53 +/- 12 cm/s at 12 months, P = ns).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with paroxysmal AF and relatively well preserved LA function, AF ablation leads to no significant deterioration of atrial function.
authors.affiliation: University of Athens, Second Cardiology Department, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece. nikolaosdagres@yahoo.de
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dagres
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hindricks
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kottkamp
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Varounis
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bode
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arya
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.forename: Dimitrios Th
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Kremastinos
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piorkowski
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016279:Atrial Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013614:Tachycardia, Paroxysmal / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome