Safety and efficacy of circumferential pulmonary vein catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report the safety, efficacy, and predictors of recurrence of circumferential pulmonary vein (PV) catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Background: Circumferential PV ablation has been described as an alternate ablation strategy for AF.

Methods: Seventy consecutive patients (age 56 +/- 10 years) with symptomatic drug refractory paroxysmal (n = 21), persistent (n = 22), and permanent (n = 27) AF underwent catheter ablation.