Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography Compared to Computed Tomography in Evaluation of Pulmonary Vein Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation (ROTEA study).

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard for assessing pulmonary vein (PV) anatomy and stenosis after ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF), but radiation exposure can be a concern. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides anatomic and functional assessment of the PVs, although no study has prospectively compared findings on TEE with those on CT. METHODS: The Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography Compared to Computed Tomography in Evaluation of Pulmonary Vein Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation (ROTEA) study was a prospective, single-blinded observational study of patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF undergoing ablation. TEE and CT were performed immediately before and 3 months after AF ablation. The study included 43 patients (84% men; mean age, 56 ± 11 years). RESULTS: In the preprocedural study, TEE identified 98% of PVs with adequate Doppler measurements obtained. After ablation, no moderate or severe PV stenosis was detected on CT, and a 30% to 50% reduction in luminal diameter was seen in 5% of studied veins. Functional PV stenosis by pulsed-wave Doppler was seen in two veins on TEE. PV diameters decreased after ablation by 0.20 ± 0.03 and 0.22 ± 0.03 cm as measured by CT and TEE, respectively (P < .001). However, TEE underestimated PV ostial dimensions compared with CT, especially for the inferior PVs. Severe spontaneous echo contrast and low left atrial appendage emptying velocities, were identified in 10% of patients in sinus rhythm after ablation. CONCLUSIONS: In the ROTEA study, TEE was feasible in assessing PVs before and after ablation, providing both anatomic and functional information that complemented CT. PV ostial dimensions after ablation can be monitored using either modality, although TEE underestimates PV dimensions, especially for the inferior veins.

Natural history and long-term outcomes of ablated atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is increasingly used in clinical practice. We aimed to study the natural history and long-term outcomes of ablated AF. METHODS AND RESULTS: We followed 831 patients after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) performed in 2005. We documented clinical outcomes using our prospective AF registry with most recent update on this group of patients in October 2009. In the first year after ablation, 23.8% had early recurrence. Over long-term follow-up (55 months), only 8.9% had late arrhythmia recurrence defined as occurring beyond the first year after ablation. Repeat ablations in patients with late recurrence revealed conduction recovery in at least 1 of the previously isolated PVs in all of them and right-sided triggers with isoproterenol testing in 55.6%. At last follow-up, clinical improvement was 89.9% (79.4% arrhythmia-free off antiarrhythmic drugs and 10.5% with AF controlled with antiarrhythmic drugs). Only 4.6% continued to have drug-resistant AF. It was possible to safely discontinue anticoagulation in a substantial proportion of patients with no recurrence in the year after ablation (CHADS score ≤2, stroke incidence of 0.06% per year). The procedure-related complication rate was very low. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary vein isolation is safe and efficacious for long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm and control of symptoms in patients with drug-resistant AF. It obviates the need for antiarrhythmic drugs, negative dromotropic agents, and anticoagulants in a substantial proportion of patients.

Radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation under therapeutic international normalized ratio: a safe and efficacious periprocedural anticoagulation strategy.

BACKGROUND: The best periprocedural anticoagulation strategy at the time of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is not known. Most centers stop administering warfarin (Coumadin) and use bridging with heparin or enoxaparin. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PVI under therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR). METHODS: Between January 2005 and December 2008, PVI was performed in 3,052 patients with therapeutic INR (> or =1.8) at the time of ablation. All patients were evaluated for ischemic strokes and bleeding complications. RESULTS: Mean INR was 2.53 +/- 0.62. Only 3 (0.098%) patients had ischemic strokes. One patient had a hemorrhagic stroke on the third day postablation but recovered completely by 1-week follow-up. Bleeding complications occurred in 34 (1.11%) patients; most were minor (0.79%). Major hemorrhagic complications occurred in 10 (0.33%) patients (tamponade in 5, hematomas requiring intervention in 2, transfusion necessary in 3). CONCLUSION: In a large patient population, continuation of Coumadin at a therapeutic INR at the time of PVI without use of heparin or enoxaparin for bridging is a safe and efficacious periprocedural anticoagulation strategy. It is an acceptable and potentially better alternative to strategies that use bridging with heparin or enoxaparin.