Low-energy internal cardioversion in patients with long-lasting atrial fibrillation refractory to external electrical cardioversion: results and long-term follow-up.
Europace
; 3(2): 90-5, 2001 Apr.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11333060
ABSTRACT
AIM:
Low-energy internal cardioversion is a new electrical treatment for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. This paper evaluates the efficacy and safety of low-energy internal cardioversion in patients with long-lasting atrial fibrillation refractory to external electrical cardioversion, and the clinical outcome of such patients. METHOD ANDRESULTS:
The study population consisted of 55 patients [32 male, mean age 65 +/- 10 years, 48 (87%) with underlying heart disease] with long-lasting (mean 18 +/- 34 months) atrial fibrillation in whom external cardioversion had failed to restore sinus rhythm. Two custom-made catheters were used one positioned in the right atrium and one in the coronary sinus or the left pulmonary artery. A standard catheter was inserted into the right ventricular apex to provide R wave synchronization. Sinus rhythm was restored in 52 patients (95%) with a mean defibrillating energy of 6.9 +/- 2.6 J (320 +/- 60 V). No complications were observed. During follow-up (mean 18 +/- 9 months), 16 patients (31%) suffered early recurrence (< or = 1 week) of atrial fibrillation and 20 patients (38%) had late recurrence (> 1 week, mean 3.5 +/- 3.6 months) of atrial fibrillation. Six patients with a late recurrence again underwent cardioversion and five of these maintained sinus rhythm. Therefore, a total of 21/52 patients (40%) were in sinus rhythm at the end of follow-up. No clinical difference was found between patients with and without recurrences.CONCLUSIONS:
Low-energy internal cardioversion is a useful means of restoring sinus rhythm in patients with long-lasting atrial fibrillation refractory to external electrical cardioversion. More than one-third of patients maintained sinus rhythm during long-term follow-up.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Atrial Fibrillation
/
Electric Countershock
/
Cardiac Catheterization
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Europace
Journal subject:
CARDIOLOGIA
/
FISIOLOGIA
Year:
2001
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy