Favorable response and rhythm outcome
Favorable response was found in 15 (48%) of the 31 patients in the PLS group, while no favorable response in the control group. Of the patients with favorable response, AF termination could be documented in 7 (23%) patients and AT conversion in 8 (26%) patients. AT could be mapped and terminated by the RF application. At the end of the procedure, AF inducibility by burst pacing could be reduced in in 26 (84%) patients.
The AF/ AT recurrence at 12 months after the procedure was significantly less in the PLS groups as compared to the control group with patchy LGE site (4 [13%] vs. 11 [36%], log-rank test p = 0.034) (Figure 4A). AF/AT recurrence was likely less in the patients with favorable response as compared to those without one (1 (7%) of 15 vs. 3 (19%) of 16 patients, p = 0.090). Of note, the patient with a favorable response had AT recurrence but not AF. Representative case was shown in Figure 5. The PLS could be found at the LA septum and LAA base where RF application could terminate AF. Of interest, AF/AT recurrence were comparative between the PLS ablation group and the conventional ablation group without the patchy LGE site (4 [13%] vs. 5 [16%], log-rank test p = 0.710) (Figure 4B).