Does segmental pulmonary vein isolation provide clinical efficacy in patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation?
Segmental pulmonary vein isolation is highly effective for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation but has significantly lower efficacy for persistent atrial fibrillation.
With a segmental isolation approach that targets at least 3 PVs, a clinically satisfactory result can be achieved in >80% of patients with paroxysmal AF. The clinical efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation is much lower when AF is persistent than when it is paroxysmal.
Oral et al. (2002) studied this question.