title: Effects of two kinds of radio frequency ablations on morphology and function of left atrium in patients with atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to observe the effects of circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA) and CPVA combined with complex fractionated atrial electro-gram (CPVA+CFAE) on morphology and function of left atrium in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the effects of CPVA and CPVA+CFAE on morphology and function of left atrium, the left atrial volume and late diastolic velocity peak (Va) were determined by tissue Doppler imaging before and after CPVA and CPVA+CFAE, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistical difference in the left atrial volume before and after CPVA. However, Va was significantly higher after CPVA (P=0.001). There was no statistical difference in both the left atrial volume and Va before and after CPVA+CFAE. Va after ablation was significantly higher in CPVA group than in CPVA+CFAE group (P=0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The left atrial function was significantly improved after CPVA, but CPVA+CFAE failed to markedly improve the left atrial function. This suggests that excessive atrial substrate ablation may damage the left atrial function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Soochow 215006, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Soochow 215006, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; atrial substrate; radiofrequency ablation