Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2016
Journal
Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Volume
27
Issue
11
First Page
1298
Last Page
1303
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi: 10.1111/jce.13065
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency (RF) ablation in thicker regions of the left atrium (LA) may require increased ablation energy in order to achieve effective transmural lesions. Consequently, many cases of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) postablation may be due to thicker-than-normal atrial tissue. The aim of this study was to test the hypotheses that patients with recurrent AF have thicker tissue overall and that electrical reconnection is more likely in regions of thicker tissue.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective analysis was performed on 86 CT images acquired preoperatively from a cohort of 119 patients who had undergone RF ablation for AF. Of these, 33 patients experienced recurrence of AF within 1 year of initial treatment and 29 returned for a repeat ablation. For each patient, LA wall thickness (LAWT) was measured from the images in 12 anatomical regions using custom software. Patients with recurrent AF had larger LAWT compared to successfully treated patients (1.6 ± 0.6 mm vs. 1.5 ± 0.5 mm, P < 0.001) and reconnection was found to be at regions of thicker tissue (1.6 ± 0.6 mm, P = 0.038) compared to nonreconnected regions (1.5 ± 0.5 mm). The superior right posterior wall of the LA was significantly related to both recurrence (P = 0.048) and reconnection (P = 0.014).
CONCLUSION: Increased LAWT has a small but significant effect on postablation recurrence and reconnection. Measures of LAWT may facilitate appropriate dosing of RF energy, but other factors will be critical in transmural lesion formation and ablation success.
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Notes
This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: J. Inoue, A.C. Skanes, L.J. Gula & M. Drangova. (2016). Effect of left atrial wall thickness on radiofrequency ablation success. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 27(11), 1298-1303, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.13065. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.