Role of empirical isolation of the superior vena cava in patients with recurrence of atrial fibrillation after pulmonary vein isolation-a multi-center analysis.

Background: Non-pulmonary vein (PV) triggers play a role in the initiation of atrial fibrillation (AF), with the superior vena cava (SVC) being a common location. The aim of the current study was to investigate a strategy of empirical SVC isolation (SVCI) in addition to re-isolation of PV in patients with recurrence of AF after index PV isolation (PVI).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients from two centers with recurrence of AF after index PVI, undergoing a repeat ablation.