Radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in athletes referred for disabling symptoms preventing usual training schedule and sport competition.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol
; 19(5): 457-62, 2008 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18266680
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Atrial fibrillation (AF) may occasionally affect athletes by impairing their ability to compete, and leading to noneligibility at prequalification screening. The impact of catheter ablation (CA) in restoring full competitive activity of athletes affected by AF is not known. The aim of our study was to investigate the effectiveness of CA of idiopathic AF in athletes with palpitations impairing physical performance and compromising eligibility for competitive activities. METHODS ANDRESULTS:
Twenty consecutive competitive athletes (all males; 44.4 +/- 13.0 years) with disabling palpitations on the basis of idiopathic drug-refractory AF underwent 46 procedures (2.3 +/- 0.4 per patient) according to a prospectively designed multiprocedural CA approach that consolidates pulmonary veins (PV) isolation through subsequent steps. Preablation, effort-induced AF could be documented in 13 patients (65%) during stress ECG and significantly reduced maximal effort capacity (176 +/- 21 W), as compared with patients with no AF during effort (207 +/- 43 W, P < 0.05). At the end of CA protocol, which also included ablation of atrial flutter (AFL) in 7 patients, 18 (90.0%) patients were free of AF and two (10.0%) reported short-lasting (minutes) episodes of palpitations during 36.1 +/- 12.7 months follow-up. Compared with preablation, postablation maximal exercise capacity significantly improved (from 183 +/- 32 to 218 +/- 20 W, P < 0.02). All baseline quality of life (QoL) parameters pertinent to physical activity significantly improved (P < 0.05) at the end of CA protocol. All athletes obtained reeligibility and could effectively reinitiate sport activity.CONCLUSIONS:
AF, alone or in combination with AFL, may significantly impair maximal effort capacity thereby limiting competitive performance. Multiple PV isolation proved very effective in these patients to restore full competitive activity and allow reeligibility.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Fibrilação Atrial
/
Aptidão Física
/
Ablação por Cateter
/
Pessoas com Deficiência
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Recuperação de Função Fisiológica
/
Desempenho Atlético
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol
Assunto da revista:
ANGIOLOGIA
/
CARDIOLOGIA
/
FISIOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália