Complete pulmonary vein isolation was superior to incomplete isolation for preventing atrial fibrillation recurrence within 3 months (62.2% vs 79.2%; difference 17.1%, 95% CI 5.3%-28.9%; P<0.001).
RCT (n=233)
Does complete PVI reduce the recurrence of atrial fibrillation compared to incomplete PVI in patients with drug-refractory, symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?
Complete pulmonary vein isolation significantly reduces the recurrence of atrial fibrillation at 3 months compared to intentionally incomplete isolation, although electrical reconduction remains common.
Effect estimate: difference 17.1% (95% CI 5.3%-28.9%)
Absolute Event Rate: 62.2% vs 79.2%
p-value: p=<0.001
BACKGROUND: Ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is an established treatment option for symptomatic patients. It is not known whether complete pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is superior to incomplete PVI with regard to the patients' clinical outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with drug-refractory, symptomatic paroxysmal AF were randomly assigned to either incomplete (group A) or complete PVI (group B). In group A, a persistent gap was intentionally left within the circumferential ablation line, whereas in group B, complete PVI without any gaps was intended. At 3 months, all patients underwent invasive reevaluation to assess the rate of persistent PVI. Clinical follow-up was based on daily 30-s transtelephonic ECG transmissions. Primary study end point was the time to first recurrence of (symptomatic or asymptomatic) AF. A total of 233 patients were enrolled (116 in group A and 117 in group B). AF recurrence within 3 months was observed in a total of 161 patients (136 84.5% with symptomatic and 25 15.5% with asymptomatic AF); AF recurred in 62.2% of group B patients and 79.2% of group A patients (P<0.001), for a difference in favor of complete PVI of 17.1% (95% confidence interval, 5.3%-28.9%). Invasive restudy in 103 group A patients and 93 group B patients revealed conduction gaps in 92 (89.3%) and 65 (69.9%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study proves the superiority of complete PVI over incomplete PVI with respect to AF recurrence within 3 months. However, the rate of electric reconduction 3 months after PVI is high in patients with initially isolated PVs. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00293943.
Kück et al. (Fri,) conducted a rct in drug-refractory, symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (n=233). Complete pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) vs. Incomplete PVI was evaluated on Time to first recurrence of (symptomatic or asymptomatic) AF (difference 17.1%, 95% CI 5.3%-28.9%, p=<0.001). Complete pulmonary vein isolation was superior to incomplete isolation for preventing atrial fibrillation recurrence within 3 months (62.2% vs 79.2%; difference 17.1%, 95% CI 5.3%-28.9%; P<0.001).