title: Predictors of early and late left atrial tachycardia and left atrial flutter after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: long-term follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was identification of the predictors of left atrial tachycardia and left atrial flutter (LATAFL) after radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (CAAF).
  
  
  METHODS
  We followed 598 patients (71% male, 41% paroxysmal AF; median follow-up: 36 months) after a single step-wise CAAF procedure. The time to first documented LATAFL lasting longer than 30 s, documented in any kind of electrocardiography (ECG), was defined as an end-point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A single CAAF procedure resulted in LATAF in 58 (10%) patients. Additional lesions were performed in 275 (46%) patients. Early LATAFL recurrence (£ 3 months since the index procedure) was observed in 11 (2%) patients. Late LATAFL (> 3 months) was noted in 47 (8%) patients. The univariate predictors of LATAFL recurrence were: type of AF (p = 0.003), the size of LA (p = 0.002) and the type of procedure (p = 0.0001). The identified single independent predictors of LATAFL recurrence were enlarged LA (p = 0.001) and mul-tiple (≥ 2) additional lesions performed during the index procedure (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher rate of LATAFL recurrence was observed in patients with non-paroxysmal AF, enlarged LA and any additional lesions performed. Two independent predictors of LATAFL recurrence after CAAF were: the enlarged LA and multiple (≥ 2) additional lesions performed during the index procedure.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wójcik
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berkowitsch
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaltsberg
authors.forename: Christian W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hamm
authors.forename: Heinz F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Pitschner
authors.forename: Malte
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuniss
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart and Thorax Center, Bad Nauheim, Germany Department of Cardiology, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Germany. t.neumann@kerckhoff-klinik.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Neumann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: atrial fibrillation; catheter ablation; left atrial flutter; left atrial tachycardia