title: Prognostic value of atrial fibrillation inducibility after right atrial flutter ablation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with typical right atrial flutter (AFL) may also have underlying atrial fibrillation (AF) or be at high risk of developing AF. Inducibility of AF among patients undergoing AFL ablation may be an important predictor of future occurrence of AF and may be useful in guiding management of this patient population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine whether inducibility of AF at the time of AFL ablation is independently associated with the risk of future AF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Attempt at induction of AF by burst pacing was performed in consecutive patients who underwent AFL ablation. Time to incidence of AF after AFL ablation was examined using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. All analyses were stratified by a history of AF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 175 patients were retrospectively evaluated over a median follow-up period of 482 days. In patients without a documented history of AF (n = 93), the incidence of AF after AFL ablation was 18.7 per 100 person-years. In these patients, inducible AF was strongly associated with the future development of AF (adjusted hazard ratio 15.99; 95% confidence interval 5.10-50.12). In contrast, in patients with a documented history of AF (n = 82), the incidence of AF after AFL ablation was 59.3 per 100 person-years and inducible AF was not associated with the future development of AF (adjusted hazard ratio 1.26; 95% confidence interval 0.74-2.14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inducibility of AF after AFL ablation is strongly and independently associated with the risk of future AF among patients without a history of AF but not among patients with a history of AF.
authors: Division of Cardiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Quebec Canada.
authors: Jacqueline
authors: J
authors: Joza
authors: Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Kristian B
authors: KB
authors: Filion
authors: Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Eberg
authors: Division of Cardiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Quebec Canada.
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Proietti
authors: Division of Cardiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Quebec Canada.
authors: Thais
authors: T
authors: Nascimento
authors: Division of Cardiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Quebec Canada.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Bernier
authors: Division of Cardiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Quebec Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hôpital Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Tomy
authors: T
authors: Hadjis
authors: Division of Cardiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Quebec Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hôpital Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: vidal.essebag@mcgill.ca.
authors: Vidal
authors: V
authors: Essebag
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Atrial flutter; Cavotricuspid isthmus ablation; Inducibility