Pulmonary vein isolation significantly reduced cumulative atrial fibrillation burden from a pre-procedure median of 2.5% to 0% after the 3-month blanking period (P<0.001).
Observational (n=35)
Does pulmonary vein isolation reduce atrial fibrillation burden and recurrence in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation monitored continuously by a subcutaneous cardiac monitor?
Pulmonary vein isolation significantly reduces atrial fibrillation burden in patients with paroxysmal AF, and continuous monitoring reveals that early recurrences strongly predict late recurrences.
Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 2.5%
p-value: p=<0.001
AIMS: Data on the success rate of ablation in atrial fibrillation (AF) are controversial. Our hypothesis is that the efficacy must be evaluated considering the AF burden (AFB) before the procedure. Moreover, the clinical significance of early recurrence (ERAT) of AF or atrial tachyarrhythmias (AT) is debatable. The aim is to describe the outcome of pulmonary vein isolation in paroxysmal AF through a subcutaneous cardiac monitor (ICM) implanted before the procedure. METHODS: Using CARTO 3, circumferential lesions around the pulmonary veins were placed. The study endpoint was the first documented recurrence of AF/AT by ICM after the blanking period (3 months). AFB (percentage of time in AF/AT) was collected every month before and after the procedure during the 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: The ICM was implanted 94 ± 23 days before the procedure in 35 patients with paroxysmal AF (54 ± 11 years, refractory to 1.8 ± 0.6 antiarrhythmic drugs). Cumulative AFB before the procedure and after the blanking period was 2.5% (1-5%) versus 0% (0-0.25%), P < 0.001. Twenty patients (57.1%) were free of documented AF/AT recurrence, 5 patients (14.2%) reduced the AFB 90%, 6 patients (17.1%) continued the same, and 4 patients (11.4%) increased the AFB 90% for AT. The success rate with second procedure was 71.4%. All 13 patients with ERAT had recurrence after the blanking period. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal AF is well documented by an ICM. The success rate is dependent of the previous AFB that can be randomly variable and lower than expected. ERATs predict late recurrence.
Pedrote et al. (Thu,) conducted a observational in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (n=35). Pulmonary vein isolation vs. Pre-procedure baseline was evaluated on Cumulative atrial fibrillation burden (percentage of time in AF/AT) (p=<0.001). Pulmonary vein isolation significantly reduced cumulative atrial fibrillation burden from a pre-procedure median of 2.5% to 0% after the 3-month blanking period (P<0.001).