Catheter ablation for nonautomatic focal atrial tachycardia was successful in 79% of attempted foci, with success rates of 80% using electroanatomic mapping and 72% without.
Observational (n=38)
No
What are the clinical characteristics, anatomical distribution, and ablation outcomes of nonautomatic focal atrial tachycardia?
NAFAT is a rare arrhythmia predominantly affecting women without structural heart disease, localizing mostly to the right atrium, and is amenable to catheter ablation with high success rates.
Absolute Event Rate: 80% vs 72%
Nonautomatic focal atrial tachycardia (NAFAT) is a rare and poorly understood arrhythmia either due to microreentry or triggered mechanism. NAFAT was defined as a focal atrial tachycardia which was inducible with pacing maneuvers in the electrophysiology lab. We reviewed the charts and EP study reports of all 38 patients with NAFAT, who underwent an EP study at our center between April 1994 and September 2000. Patients' were predominantly female (n = 31, 82%), aged 11-78 years (median 46). The mean age at presentation was 31 years (range 7-71 years). None of the patients had structural heart disease or had undergone prior heart surgery. Electroanatomic mapping (EAM) was performed in 22 patients and showed no scars in the atrium. A total of 45 foci were identified (range 1-3 foci/patient). Anatomically NAFAT foci were predominantly right atrial (n = 35) rather than left (n = 10). The NAFAT cycle length ranged from 270 to 490 (mean +/- SD; 380 +/- 69 ms) and was significantly lower in patients younger than 24 years of age. Ablation, attempted for 42 foci was successful in 33 (79%). The success rate in the EAM group was 20/25 foci (80%) compared to 13/18 (72%) in the non-EAM group. In conclusion, NAFAT is a rare arrhythmia which predominantly affects women with no other associated cardiac disease. It mainly occurs in the right atrium, affects all ages and is amenable to catheter ablation.
Kammeraad et al. (Sat,) conducted a observational in Nonautomatic focal atrial tachycardia (NAFAT) (n=38). Catheter ablation with electroanatomic mapping (EAM) vs. Catheter ablation without EAM was evaluated on Ablation success rate per focus. Catheter ablation for nonautomatic focal atrial tachycardia was successful in 79% of attempted foci, with success rates of 80% using electroanatomic mapping and 72% without.
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