Key Words: Atrial Fibrillation, Catheter Ablation,
Posterior Wall Isolation
Introduction: Left atrial
posterior wall (LAPW) isolation is associated with favorable outcomes
for catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (PEAF).
Techniques for LAPW isolation include ablation at the periphery with or
without high density ablation within the LAPW. The proportion of LA
isolated by the lesion set also varies greatly. The optimal technique to
achieve LAPW isolation is not clear.
Objective: To assess impact of ablation lesion density within
and dimensions of the LAPW isolation region on arrhythmia recurrence in
catheter ablation of PEAF.
Methods: LAPW lesion density and surface area relative to total
LA surface area were calculated using electroanatomic maps of 110
consecutive patients undergoing LAPW isolation for PEAF (CARTO 3,
Biosense Webster, Inc.). LAPW isolation was performed at the discretion
of 5 experienced operators after voltage mapping. LAPW PV entrance and
exit block were confirmed. Arrhythmia recurrence at two years was
assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.
Results: LAPW lesion density ranged from 0% - 99%. The
proportion of LA surface area isolated ranged from 35% - 75%. There
was no significant difference in arrhythmia-free survival stratified by
median LAPW ablation density (31% vs. 27%, p=0.8) or median proportion
of electrically-isolated LA surface area (31% vs. 27%, p=0.8%).
Voltage map-guided LAPW isolation did not significantly decrease
arrhythmia recurrence (29% vs. 28%, p=1).
Conclusion: Neither the density of ablation within nor the
dimensions of the LAPW isolated region predicted arrhythmia-free
survival for catheter ablation of PEAF. Voltage map-guided LAPW
isolation resulted in similar ablation efficacy regardless of LA scar
burden.