Long-term outcomes of catheter ablation in patients with longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation lasting less than 2 years

Domenico G. Della Rocca, Sanghamitra Mohanty, Prasant Mohanty, Chintan Trivedi, Carola Gianni, Amin Al-Ahmad, J. David Burkhardt, G. Joseph Gallinghouse, Patrick Hranitzky, Javier E. Sanchez, Rodney P. Horton, Luigi Di Biase, Andrea Natale

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Outcome data after catheter ablation (CA) for longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) lasting less than 2 years are limited and highly variable with different ablation approaches. We aimed to assess the long-term outcomes in patients with LSPAF lasting less than 2 years undergoing extended pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) versus those with additional non-pulmonary vein (PV) trigger ablation. Methods and Results: In this prospective analysis, 381 consecutive patients with LSPAF lasting less than 2 years (age: 64 ± 9 years, 76% male, atrial fibrillation duration: 19 ± 5 months) undergoing their first CA were classified into two groups: Group 1 (n = 104) received PVAI extended to PW plus isolation of superior vena cava (SVC) and Group 2 (n = 277) received PVAI + PW + SVC + non-PV–trigger ablation. All patients were followed-up for at least 2 years. In case of recurrence, repeat procedure was offered and non-PV triggers were targeted for ablation in all. After a single procedure, 26 (25%) patients in Group 1 and 172 (62.1%) in Group 2 remained arrhythmia-free (P < 0.001). A second procedure was performed in 58 of 78 (74.4%) patients in Group 1 and 77 of 105 (73.3%) patients in Group 2. Non-PV triggers were identified in 52 (89.6%) and 54 (70.1%) patients in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, and targeted for ablation. Overall, 72 (69.2%) patients in Group 1 and 238 (86%) in Group 2 remained arrhythmia-free (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In patients with LSPAF lasting less than 2 years, extended PVAI plus SVC isolation was less likely to achieve long-term sinus rhythm. In the majority of patients, recurrence was due to non-PV triggers and ablation of those resulted in better outcome.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1607-1615
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Volume29
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2018

Keywords

  • atrial fibrillation
  • catheter ablation
  • empirical isolation
  • longstanding persistent
  • non-pulmonary vein triggers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

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