title: [Efficacy of ibutilide for cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation during radiofrequency ablation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency and safety of ibutilide for cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) during radiofrequency ablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients (16 males) with persistent atrial fibrillation were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent circumferential pulmonary vein ablation guided by a Carto three-dimensional mapping system. In addition, linear ablation at the top of the left atrium and the isthmus of mitral valves and complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CAFE) ablation were performed. All patients were still in either atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter after ablation, the patients were treated with 1 mg intravenous ibutilide injection within 10 minutes after unsuccessful ablation. Intravenous injection was stopped in case of sinus rhythm (SR) restoration or occurrence of severe adverse reactions such as ventricular tachycardia. Cardioversion rate within 30 min and adverse reactions within 4 h were observed. Patients were divided into either conversion group or non-conversion group according to whether AF was converted to sinus rhythm within 30 minutes after injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven patients (61.11%) converted to SR after ibutilide injection. There were no significant differences in gender, age, body mass index, left atrium and left ventricular function between conversion group and non-conversion groups. The average conversion time was (13.80 ± 7.64) min, left atrium scar area ratio was significantly larger in non-conversion group (12.40 ± 11.03)% than in conversion group (5.12 ± 3.83)%, P < 0.05. Ibutilide significantly prolonged the average wavelength of the AF wave (171.8 ± 29.5) ms vs. (242.0 ± 40.0) ms at baseline, P < 0.01. The QT interval at 30 min after ibutilide injection (0.39 ± 0.21) s was significantly longer than before injection (0.51 ± 0.08) s, P < 0.05. There was no serious arrhythmias or other adverse reactions post ibutilide injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ibutilide is highly effective and safe agent for cardioversion in patients underwent unsuccessful ablation. Left atrium scar area ratio is an important determinant for the conversion rate in this cohort.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-chen
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Yin-man
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lian-jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yu-bi
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ya-wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yun-long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Shu-long
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan-zong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D013449:Sulfonamides; C067192:ibutilide