Left atrial appendage isolation significantly reduced arrhythmia recurrence compared to focal ablation or no ablation (15% vs 68% and 74%, P<0.001).
Cohort (n=266)
Does left atrial appendage isolation reduce atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients undergoing redo catheter ablation with LAA triggers?
Left atrial appendage isolation significantly reduces atrial fibrillation recurrence compared to focal ablation or no LAA ablation in patients undergoing redo procedures with LAA triggers.
Absolute Event Rate: 15% vs 74%
p-value: p=<0.001
BACKGROUND: Together with pulmonary veins, many extrapulmonary vein areas may be the source of initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation. The left atrial appendage (LAA) is an underestimated site of initiation of atrial fibrillation. Here, we report the prevalence of triggers from the LAA and the best strategy for successful ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine hundred eighty-seven consecutive patients (29% paroxysmal, 71% nonparoxysmal) undergoing redo catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation were enrolled. Two hundred sixty-six patients (27%) showed firing from the LAA and became the study population. In 86 of 987 patients (8.7%; 5 paroxysmal, 81 nonparoxysmal), the LAA was found to be the only source of arrhythmia with no pulmonary veins or other extrapulmonary vein site reconnection. Ablation was performed either with focal lesion (n=56; group 2) or to achieve LAA isolation by placement of the circular catheter at the ostium of the LAA guided by intracardiac echocardiography (167 patients; group 3). In the remaining patients, LAA firing was not ablated (n=43; group 1). At the 12+/-3-month follow-up, 32 patients (74%) in group 1 had recurrence compared with 38 (68%) in group 2 and 25 (15%) in group 3 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The LAA appears to be responsible for arrhythmias in 27% of patients presenting for repeat procedures. Isolation of the LAA could achieve freedom from atrial fibrillation in patients presenting for a repeat procedure when arrhythmias initiating from this structure are demonstrated.
Biase et al. (Wed,) conducted a cohort in Atrial fibrillation (n=266). Left atrial appendage isolation vs. No ablation or focal lesion ablation was evaluated on Recurrence of arrhythmia (p=<0.001). Left atrial appendage isolation significantly reduced arrhythmia recurrence compared to focal ablation or no ablation (15% vs 68% and 74%, P<0.001).