title: Efficacy of multi-electrode duty-cycled radiofrequency ablation in patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation is a first-line therapy for patients withdrug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). Complete isolation of electrical potentials at the ostium of pulmonary vein (PV) is a challenging procedure. There are different techniques and devicesused for PV isolation (PVI). The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PV ablation catheter (PVAC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 67 consecutive patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF were treated with the PVAC. The patients' information were obtained from clinical charts. Follow-up was obtained by one day Holter monitoring at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 months after ablation and ECG registration if any symptoms or arrhythmia occurred.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up duration was 16 months (IQR: 12-20 months). In the population which was available at follow-up (n = 60), 22 (36.7%) patients were in sustained sinus rhythm (SR) without anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD). Overall 26 (43.3%) patients were in sustained SR with and without AAD. In the paroxysmal AF group, after a single PVAC ablation procedure (n = 39), 19 (48.7%) patients had sustained SR without AAD. In the persistent AF group (n = 15), after the single PVAC ablation, 2 (13.3%) patients had sustained SR without AAD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PVI with PVAC is a safe procedure with 48.7% efficacy in patients with paroxysmal AF. The efficacy of PVAC in patients with persistent or long-standing persistent AF is not acceptable.
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Koźluk
authors: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. pawel@balsam.com.pl.
authors: Paweł
authors: P
authors: Balsam
authors: Michał
authors: M
authors: Peller
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Kiliszek
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Lodziński
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Piątkowska
authors: Sylwia
authors: S
authors: Małkowska
authors: Dariusz
authors: D
authors: Rodkiewicz
authors: Janusz
authors: J
authors: Kochanowski
authors: Grzegorz
authors: G
authors: Opolski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011044:Poland; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome