Key result
Single ring isolation for atrial fibrillation ablation demonstrated a significant learning curve, with posterior wall isolation achieved in 98% of the last 50 cases versus 82% of the first 50 cases (p=0.016).
Why the study?
Does procedural experience improve success rates and reduce ablation times for single ring isolation in de novo AF ablation?
Observational (n=250)
Does procedural experience improve success rates and reduce ablation times for single ring isolation in de novo AF ablation?
Absolute Event Rate: 98% vs 82%
p-value: p=0.016
Single ring isolation for AF ablation has a substantial learning curve, with procedural success and efficiency improving significantly with experience while maintaining comparable long-term arrhythmia-free outcomes.
Single ring isolation feasible for PWI in 85% of cases; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
INTRODUCTION: Although single ring isolation is an accepted strategy for undertaking pulmonary vein (PV) and posterior wall isolation (PWI) during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, the learning curve associated with this technique as well as procedural and clinical success rates have not been widely reported. METHODS AND RESULTS: Prospectively collected data from 250 consecutive patients undergoing de novo AF ablation using single ring isolation. PWI was achieved in 212 patients (84.8%) and PV isolation without PWI was achieved in 37 patients (14.4%). Thirty-one cases (12.4%) demonstrated inferior line sparing where PWI was achieved without a continuous posterior wall inferior line. A learning curve was observed, with higher rates of PWI (98% last 50 vs. 82% first 50 cases, p = .016), higher rates of inferior line sparing (20% last 50 vs. 8% first 50 cases, p = .071) and lower ablation times (43.8 min (interquartile range [IQR]: 34.6-57.0 min) last 50 versus. 96.5 min (IQR: 80.8-115.8 min) first 50 cases; p < .001). Three (1.3%) major procedure-related complications were observed. Twelve-month, single-procedure freedom from atrial arrhythmia without drugs was 70.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 61.5%-77.7%) and 60.0% (95% CI: 50.2%-68.4%) for paroxysmal and persistent/longstanding persistent AF. Twelve-month multi-procedure freedom from atrial arrhythmia was 92.2% (95%CI: 85.6%-95.9%) and 85.6% (95%CI: 77.2%-91.0%) for paroxysmal and persistent/longstanding persistent AF. CONCLUSION: Employing a single ring isolation approach, PWI can be achieved in most cases. There is a substantial learning curve with higher rates of PWI, reduced ablation times, and higher rates of inferior line sparing as procedural experience grows. Long-term freedom from arrhythmia is comparable to other AF ablation techniques.
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Thiyagarajah et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Atrial fibrillation (n=250). Single ring isolation (last 50 cases) vs. First 50 cases was evaluated on Posterior wall isolation (PWI) achievement (p=0.016). Single ring isolation for atrial fibrillation ablation demonstrated a significant learning curve, with posterior wall isolation achieved in 98% of the last 50 cases versus 82% of the first 50 cases (p=0.016).
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