Why the study?
The temporal relationship between left atrial functional recovery and structural remodeling after radiofrequency catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF remains incompletely characterized.
How does radiofrequency catheter ablation affect the temporal evolution of left atrial volume and function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?
Population
26 patients with paroxysmal AF
Comparison
Serial CMR assessments before, immediately after, intermediate follow-up, and at 3 months post-ablation
Design
Serial CMR imaging cohort study
Follow-up
3 months
Key result
Radiofrequency catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation caused acute LA stunning, with active emptying fraction decreasing from 35.9 to 11.6 (p<0.001), before recovering by one month.
Authors
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Anticipate transient post-ablation LA stunning without practice change; extends evidence for sequential functional then structural LA remodeling in paroxysmal AF.
Cohort (n=26)
How does radiofrequency catheter ablation affect the temporal evolution of left atrial volume and function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?
p-value: p=<0.001
Following radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, acute left atrial stunning and functional recovery precede structural volumetric reverse remodeling.
Rier et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (n=26). Radiofrequency catheter ablation vs. Baseline was evaluated on Temporal evolution of left atrial volume and function (p=<0.001). Radiofrequency catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation caused acute LA stunning, with active emptying fraction decreasing from 35.9 to 11.6 (p<0.001), before recovering by one month.