Introduction:
Catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with less successful outcomes compared to paroxysmal AF. The optimal ablation strategy for persistent AF is not well established. We report our center’s experience utilizing a hybrid ablation approach of cryoballoon (CB) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) followed by radiofrequency (RF) left atrial posterior wall isolation (LAPWI).
Methods:
134 patients with persistent AF who underwent catheter ablation between 2016 and 2019 at our center were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with congenital heart disease or prior left atrial ablation or surgery were excluded. Hybrid ablation (n=62) consisted of CB PVI followed by RF roof and floor lines resulting in LAPWI. The control group (n=72) had PVI ±LAPWI with either CB (n=38) or RF (n=34). Outcomes were monitored with office visits and 7-day Holter monitors at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-ablation. The primary endpoint was freedom from any documented atrial tachyarrhythmia over 30 seconds.
Results:
Concomitant atrial flutter ablation was performed in 19/62 (31%) and 5/72 (7%) of hybrid and control cases, respectively. There was no significant difference in procedure time, however fluoroscopy time was shorter with hybrid ablation compared to control (p<.01). 18-month freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias was 70.4% with hybrid ablation and 51.6% with PVI±LAPWI with a single energy source (p=.048). Among those with recurrence, mean AF burden was significantly lower with hybrid ablation (7%) than with a single-energy approach (60%).
Conclusion:
In this single center experience with multiple operators, hybrid CB-RF PVI and LAPWI reduced AF recurrence (incidence and burden) compared to PVI±LAPWI with a single energy source.
Pulmonary vein isolation plus left atrial posterior wall isolation and additional nonpulmonary vein trigger ablation using high‐dose isoproterenol for long‐standing persistent atrial fibrillation
