Introduction:
Non-PV triggers play significant roles in initiating atrial fibrillation (Af). We hypothesized that location of non-PV Af triggers is predictable to some extent from clinical background and may have influence on clinical outcome after ablation.
Methods:
We analyzed consecutive 109 patients (76 men) with Af who underwent catheter ablation and investigation of Af triggers. Af was induced under recordings of intra-cardiac electrograms before ablation procedure in the following ways (1) watching spontaneous firing, (2) induction with intravenous infusion of isoproterenol and adenosine, (3) burst atrial pacing and/or intentional defibrillation to watch immediate recurrence of Af. Af triggers were analyzed and compared to clinical profiles and therapeutic outcome.
Results:
Eighty-four were paroxysmal Af and 25 were persistent. Any ectopic trigger of Af was identified in 73 patients (66%) with 99 foci. Seventy-eight foci were PVs (79%) whereas 21 (21%) were non-PV triggers. In general, non-PV foci were notably identified in female (P<0.01) whereas age, LA diameter or Af type was not significantly relevant to the presence of non-PV foci. Among non-PV foci, superior vena cava (SVC, n=5), crista terminals (CT, n=5) and left atrium (LA, n=5) were prevalent sites. CT was prevalently noted in younger females (P<0.01), whereas SVC was regardless of age. Non-PV foci in the LA were preferably noted in patients with persistent Af (P<0.05). Importantly, multiple or non-PV foci were not significantly correlated to Af recurrence after ablation, whereas LA diameter was weakly correlated.
Conclusion:
Presence and sites of non-PV foci are rather predictable by simple clinical profiles such as gender, age and type of Af. Multiple or non-PV foci may not be associated with worse clinical outcome as long as they can be successfully targeted and ablated.