scholarly journals The Predictive Value of left atrial appendage peak flow velocity in Recurrence after initial radiofrequency catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation: A single-center prospective study.

Author(s):  
Wentao Yang ◽  
Qing Zhao ◽  
Minghui Yao ◽  
Xiangdong Li ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
...  

Background: Recurrence after Radiofrequency catheter ablation(RFCA) of persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) is still elusive. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the left atrial appendage peak flow velocity(LAAV) and atrial fibrillation(AF) recurrences in PeAF patients after their initial RFCA. Method: This study included 164 consecutive PeAF patients who performed initial RFCA from January 2018 to December 2019. Transesophageal echocardiography was used to collect the LAAV before ablation. Patients’ demographic and clinical information was gathered. To detect the recurrences of AF, patients were checked up at routine intervals. A Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was adopted to evaluate the LAAV and other clinical variables as predictors of AF recurrences throughout follow-up. Results: AF recurrence resulted in 43 (26.2%) patients after a median follow-up of 15 months (IQR: 12-18 months). LAAV reduced in patients with AF recurrences (0.36±0.15m/s vs. 0.45±0.17m/s, P = 0.004). A Kaplan-Meier study revealed that the low LAAV(≤0.37m/s) group had a lower event-free survival rate than the high LAAV (>0.37m/s) group (17.6 months vs. 21.2 months, Log Rank P = 0.002). LAAV≤0.37m/s (HR 2.32, 95%CI 1.177-4.227, P = 0.014) was found to be independent predictors of AF recurrence after RFCA in the multivariate Cox regression. Conclusion: A low LAAV is linked to AF recurrence and acts as a predictor of AF recurrence after the initial RFCA of peAF. This would aid in treatment strategy optimization and management of patients with peAF.

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Simon ◽  
M E Mahdiui ◽  
J M Smit ◽  
L Szaraz ◽  
S Z Herczeg ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Catheter ablation is an established therapy for rhythm control in patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF), however, recurrence is frequent particularly in persistent AF. There are no consistently confirmed predictors of AF recurrence after catheter ablation. The left atrial appendage (LAA) potentially plays an important role in AF recurrence, although the exact mechanism and pathophysiology are still unclear. Purpose We aimed to study whether LAA volume (LAAV) and function influence the long-term recurrence of AF after point-by-point radiofrequency catheter ablation, depending on AF type. Methods AF patients who underwent point-by-point radiofrequency catheter ablation after preprocedural cardiac computed tomography (CT) and transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were included in this retrospective analysis. LAAV and LAA orifice area were measured by CT and LAA flow velocity assessed by TEE and was used as a surrogate marker of LAA function. Uni- and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were performed to determine the predictors of AF recurrence. Results In total, 561 AF patients (61.9±10.2 years, 34.9% females) were included in the study. Recurrence of AF was detected in 40.8% of the cases (34.6% in patients with paroxysmal and 53.5% in those with persistent AF) with a median recurrence-free time of 22.7 [9.3–43.1] months. Patients with AF recurrence had significantly higher body surface area-indexed left atrial volume (iLAV), LAAV and LAA orifice area, as compared to those without recurrence. Moreover, patients with persistent AF had significantly higher iLAV, LAAV, LAA orifice area and lower LAA flow velocity, than those with paroxysmal AF. After adjustment for the main cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% (HR=2.17; 95% CI=1.38–3.43; p<0.001) and LAAV (HR=1.06; 95% CI=1.01–1.12; p=0.029) were independently associated with AF recurrence in persistent AF, while no independent predictors could be identified in paroxysmal AF. Conclusions The current study demonstrates that beyond left ventricular systolic dysfunction, LAA enlargement is associated with higher rate of AF recurrence after catheter ablation in persistent AF, but not in patients with paroxysmal AF. Our results suggest that preprocedural assessment of LVEF and LAAV might contribute to optimal patient selection and aid to improve long-term results of ablation procedures in patients with persistent AF. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1465
Author(s):  
Sabina Istratoaie ◽  
Ștefan C. Vesa ◽  
Gabriel Cismaru ◽  
Dana Pop ◽  
Radu Roșu ◽  
...  

Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) remains a challenging issue. This study aims to explore the left atrial appendage function by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and assess its value in predicting AF recurrence following RFCA in paroxysmal AF patients. Eighty-one patients with paroxysmal AF that underwent RFCA were recruited. TEE was performed before ablation with the assessment of left atrial appendage emptying flow velocity (LAAeV). AF recurrence occurred in 24 patients (29.6%) within 12 months after RFCA. The left atrium diameter (LAD) and left atrium volume index (LAVI) were both significantly higher in the recurrence group compared to the non-recurrence group, while the LAAeV was significantly lower in the recurrence group. LAD, LAVi and LAAeV were univariately significant risk factors for AF recurrence after ablation. Based on receiver operating curve (ROC), LAAeV < 40.5 cm/s, LAVi > 40.5 mL and LAD > 41 mm were identified as cut-off values for predicting AF recurrence. In multivariate regression analysis LAAeV < 40.5 cm/s (HR 8.194, 95% CI 2.980–22.530, p < 0.001) was identified as the only statistically significant independent predictor of AF recurrence, as the statistical significance threshold was not achieved for LAVI > 40.5 mL and LAD > 41 mm (p = 0.319; p = 0.507, respectively). A low LAAeV was the only important independent predictor of AF recurrence within 1 year after first RFCA.


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