Persistence of Atrial Fibrillation After Its Induction-Importance of the Duration and Dispersion of Atrial Refractoriness and Electrical Remodeling.

BACKGROUND: The electrophysiologic mechanisms of the persistence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after its initiation are not well understood. Therefore, the electrophysiologic characteristics of the right atrium were evaluated in an acute, pacing-induced model of AF in the pig in order to identify parameters associated with persistence of AF. METHODS AND RESULTS: AF was induced by rapid atrial pacing in 30 anesthetized, open-chest, juvenile pigs.