Clinical predictors of termination and clinical outcome of catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the role of pre-procedural clinical variables to predict procedural and clinical outcomes of catheter ablation in patients with long-lasting persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).


BACKGROUND
Catheter ablation of persistent AF remains a challenging task.


METHODS
Catheter ablation was performed in 90 patients (76 men, age 57 +/- 11 years) with long-lasting persistent AF. The history of AF, echocardiographic parameters, presence of structural heart disease, and surface electrocardiogram (ECG) AF cycle length (CL) were assessed before ablation and analyzed with respect to procedural termination and clinical outcome. Mean follow-up was 28 +/- 4 months.


RESULTS
Persistent AF was terminated in 76 of 90 patients (84%) by ablation. The duration of continuous AF was shorter (p < 0.0001), the surface ECG AFCL was longer (p < 0.0001), and the left atrium was smaller (p < 0.01) in patients in whom AF was terminated by catheter ablation. The surface ECG AFCL was the only independent predictor of AF termination (p < 0.01). Maintenance of sinus rhythm was associated with a shorter duration of continuous AF (p < 0.0001), a longer surface ECG AFCL (p < 0.001), and a smaller left atrium (p < 0.05) compared with those with recurrent arrhythmia. In multivariate analysis, the surface ECG AFCL and the AF duration predicted clinical success of persistent AF ablation (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The surface ECG AFCL is a clinically useful pre-ablation tool for predicting patients in whom sinus rhythm can be restored by catheter ablation. The duration of continuous AF and the surface ECG AFCL are predictive of maintenance of sinus rhythm.
Matsuo
Seiichiro
S
Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque and the Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux II, Bordeaux, France. mattsuu@tc4.so-net.ne.jp
Lellouche
Nicolas
N
Wright
Matthew
M
Bevilacqua
Michela
M
Knecht
Sébastien
S
Nault
Isabelle
I
Lim
Kang-Teng
KT
Arantes
Leonardo
L
O'Neill
Mark D
MD
Platonov
Pyotr G
PG
Carlson
Jonas
J
Sacher
Frederic
F
Hocini
Mélèze
M
Jaïs
Pierre
P
Haïssaguerre
Michel
M
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D018780:Body Surface Potential Mapping; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome