Background:
This study aims to determine the impact of pre-procedural cardiac computerized tomography (CT) on procedural efficacy, clinical outcome and complications in patients who undergo radiofrequency or cryo-therapy catheter ablation to eliminate atrial fibrillation (AF).
Methods:
In this retrospective review, Radiofrequency or Cryoballoon ablation was done on 50 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation with mean age of 63 (Min 47-Max 86) with paroxysmal (8
2
%) or persistent (18%) AF. Twenty-five patients underwent cryoablation and twenty-five patients underwent Radiofrequency ablation to isolate the pulmonary veins. Procedural and clinical outcomes were compared among patients who underwent catheter ablation with and without pre procedural Cardiac CT.
Results:
Out of 50 consecutive patients between 01/2014 and 08/2014 there were 26 patients who had a pre-procedural CT scan and 24 patients who did not undergo a pre-procedural CT scan. The mean duration of the procedure (303 ± 93 vs. 271 ± 43 min, P = 0.244) and fluoroscopy time (53 ± 25 vs. 43 ± 17 min, P = 0.086) was similar among patients who did and did not have pre-procedural cardiac CT. The occurrence of complications such as bleeding, pericardial tamponade, pneumothorax, infection and embolic events were also similar in both groups. Repeat ablation was performed in 4 (15%) and 7 (29%) of the patients who did and did not have cardiac CT, respectively (P = 0.249). At 3 months, 5 (19%) and 2(8%) of the patients who did and did not have pre-procedural cardiac CT had atrial fibrillation recurrence (P =0.323). At 12 months, 6 (23%) and 4 (17%) of the patients who did and did not have pre-procedural cardiac CT had atrial fibrillation recurrence (P = 0.467). There was statistically significant difference in Radiation exposure (1805 [IQR 998-2397] vs. 1195 [IQR 738-1363] P=0.0323) between patients who did and did not get pre-procedural cardiac CT, which did not include the radiation added by performing the CT itself.
Conclusions:
Pre-procedural structural anatomy obtained by cardiac CT scan before catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in a center where operators used both Radiofrequency and Cryoablation does not appear to have a significant effect on AF recurrence at 3 months or 1 year. The procedural radiation exposure was significantly less in the group that did not have pre-procedure cardiac CT.
Comparison of clinical outcomes and safety of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation supported by data from CT scan or three-dimensional rotational angiogram of left atrium and pulmonary veins
