Publications (2)3.15 Total impact
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Article: Left ventricular systolic dysfunction by itself does not influence outcome of atrial fibrillation ablation.
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ABSTRACT: The objective of the study was to analyse the influence of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) on the outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation after a first procedure. Pre-procedural predictors of recurrences after AF ablation can be useful for patient information and selection of candidates. The independent influence of LV systolic dysfunction on recurrence rate has not been studied. A case-control study (1:1) was conducted with a total of 72 patients: 36 cases (depressed LVEF) and 36 controls (normal LVEF). Patients were matched by left atrial diameter (LAD), the presence of arterial hypertension, and other variables that might influence the results (age, gender and paroxysmal vs. persistent AF). There were no statistical differences in the variables used to perform the matching. Patients with depressed LVEF had higher LV end diastolic diameter (55.6 +/- 6.2 vs. 52.4 +/- 5.5, P = 0.03), higher LV end systolic diameter (40.3 +/- 6.9 vs. 32.6 +/- 4.3, P < 0.001), lower LVEF (41.4 +/- 8.0 vs. 63.1 +/- 5.5, P < 0.001) and were more likely to have structural heart disease. After a mean follow-up of 16 +/- 13 months, survival analysis for AF recurrences showed no differences between patients with depressed vs. normal LVEF (50.0 vs. 55.6%, log rank = 0.82). Cox regression analysis revealed LAD to be the only variable correlated to recurrence [OR 1.11 (1.01-1.22), P = 0.03]. Analysis at 6 months showed a significant increase in LVEF (43.23 +/- 7.61 to 51.12 +/- 13.53%, P = 0.01) for the case group. LV systolic dysfunction by itself is not a predictor of outcome after AF ablation. LAD independently correlates with outcome in patients with low or normal LVEF.Europace 10/2009; 12(1):24-9. · 1.98 Impact Factor -
Article: Selective segmental ostial ablation and circumferential pulmonary veins ablation. Results of an individualized strategy to cure refractory atrial fibrillation.
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ABSTRACT: Previous studies have analyzed the efficacy of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in series of consecutive patients or comparing methods in a randomized way, without taking account individual patient characteristics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of a strategy based on selecting the ablation method according to patient clinical features in drug-refractory paroxysmal or persistent AF. Patients with left atrial diameter < or =40 mm and runs of atrial tachycardia of more than ten beats during Holter recording were selected for selective segmental ostial ablation (SSOA) in order to disconnect only those pulmonary veins with electrical potentials. The remaining patients underwent circumferential pulmonary veins ablation (CPVA) to modify left atrial substrate by extensive linear lesions. A group of 131 consecutive patients were included. Mean follow-up was 21.5 +/- 15.2 months. In paroxysmal AF, 44 and 55 patients were selected for SSOA and CPVA, respectively, and the efficacy of the procedure was similar in the two groups (77 vs 74%; log-rank test p = NS). In persistent AF, 6 and 26 patients underwent SSOA and CPVA, respectively, and greater efficacy was observed in the second group (17 vs 65%; log-rank test p = 0.004). Selecting the ablation method according to patient characteristics achieved good results and reduced the overall amount of ablated atrial tissue in patients with paroxysmal AF. However, in persistent AF the SSOA technique showed very limited efficacy despite the previous patient selection and a CPVA-like procedure may be the appropriate choice in all cases.Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology 07/2007; 19(1):19-27. · 1.17 Impact Factor
