Imaging of the Pulmonary Veins in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract Background Low-voltage zone (LVZ) in the left atrium (LA) seems to represent fibrosis. LA longitudinal strain assessed by speckle tracking method is known to correlate with the extent of fibrosis in patients with mitral valve disease. Purpose We sought to identify the relationship between LA longitudinal strain and LA bipolar voltage in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We tested the hypothesis that LA strain can predict LA bipolar voltage. Methods A total of 96 consecutive patients undergoing initial AF ablation were analyzed. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography including 2D speckle tracking measurement on the day before ablation during sinus rhythm (SR group, N=54) or during AF (AF group, N=42). LA longitudinal strain was measured at basal, mid, and roof level of septal, lateral, anterior, and inferior wall in apical 4- and 2-chamber view. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) was defined as an average value of the 12 segments. LA voltage map was created using EnSite system, and global mean voltage was defined as a mean of bipolar voltage of the whole LA excluding pulmonary veins and left atrial appendage. LVZ was defined as less than 1.0 mV. Results There was a significantly positive correlation between GLS and global mean voltage (r=0.708, p<0.001). Multivariate regression analysis showed that GLS and age were independent predictors of global mean voltage. There was a significant negative correlation between global mean voltage and LVZ areas. Conclusions There was a strong correlation between LA longitudinal strain and LA mean voltage. GLS can independently predict LA mean voltage, subsequently LVZ areas in patients with AF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: The Role of Left Atrial Posterior Wall Isolation and Ablation Strategies

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10143129 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (14) ◽

pp. 3129

Author(s):

Riyaz A. Kaba ◽

Aziz Momin ◽

John Camm

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Left Atrial ◽

Pulmonary Veins ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Persistent Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Posterior Wall ◽

Cardiovascular Death ◽

Good Effect ◽

Complex Forms

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a global disease with rapidly rising incidence and prevalence. It is associated with a higher risk of stroke, dementia, cognitive decline, sudden and cardiovascular death, heart failure and impairment in quality of life. The disease is a major burden on the healthcare system. Paroxysmal AF is typically managed with medications or endocardial catheter ablation to good effect. However, a large proportion of patients with AF have persistent or long-standing persistent AF, which are more complex forms of the condition and thus more difficult to treat. This is in part due to the progressive electro-anatomical changes that occur with AF persistence and the spread of arrhythmogenic triggers and substrates outside of the pulmonary veins. The posterior wall of the left atrium is a common site for these changes and has become a target of ablation strategies to treat these more resistant forms of AF. In this review, we discuss the role of the posterior left atrial wall in persistent and long-standing persistent AF, the limitations of current endocardial-focused treatment strategies, and future perspectives on hybrid epicardial–endocardial approaches to posterior wall isolation or ablation.

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Clinical outcome of non-use of touch-up focal ablation catheters strategy during cryoballoon atrial fibrillation ablation

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.0565 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

Y Matsunaga ◽

Y Egami ◽

M Yano ◽

M Yamato ◽

R Shutta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Clinical Outcome ◽

Pulmonary Veins ◽

Conventional Group ◽

Atrial Tachyarrhythmia ◽

Free Survival ◽

Af Ablation ◽

Frequent Use ◽

Class 1 ◽

Focal Ablation

Abstract Background It has been reported that frequent use of touch-up focal ablation catheters was related to worse outcomes after cryoballoon (CB) atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. It is unknown whether non-use of touch-up focal ablation catheters strategy affects the outcome of AF ablation. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether non-use of touch-up focal ablation catheters strategy improve clinical outcome after AF ablation using CB. Methods A total of 151 consecutive patients who received CB ablation from February 2017 to August 2019 were enrolled. Non-use of a touch-up focal ablation catheters strategy was started from February 2018. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the type of strategy. In the non-touch-up group, pulmonary veins were isolated without touch-up focal ablation catheters as much as possible and in conventional group, touch-up focal ablation catheters were used as required. The 1-year atrial tachyarrhythmia free survival without class 1 or 3 antiarrhythmic drugs after a 90-day blanking period was assessed between the 2 groups. Results The conventional group consisted of 76 patients and the non-touch-up group consisted of 75 patients. Baseline characteristics were comparable between 2 groups. Touch-up focal ablation catheters were used more in the conventional group (11 patients, 14%) than non-touch-up group (0 patients, 0%) (p<0.001). Pulmonary isolation was achieved in all patients of both groups. Atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence occurred more frequently in the non-touch-up group (15/75 patients, 20%) than conventional group (7/76 patients, 9%) (p=0.045). Conclusion Non-use of a touch-up focal ablation catheters strategy may be related to worse outcome after CB AF ablation. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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