Changes in P-wave area and P-wave duration after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation.

Aims: The effect of circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) on P-wave characteristics is not clear. We used the signal-averaged (SA) electrocardiogram (ECG) and the ECG derived vector cardiogram (dVCG) to study the influence of CPVI on P-wave duration (PWD) and P-wave area (PWA) and studied whether changes were associated with successful outcome after initial CPVI.

Methods And Results: Thirty-nine patients (56 +/- 10 years, 72% males) underwent CPVI for paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).

Incidence, timing, and characteristics of acute changes in heart rate during ongoing circumferential pulmonary vein isolation.

Aims: Previous studies showed that catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) results in vagal denervation with an increase in average heart rate (HR) and a reduced overall HR variability (HRV) at follow-up. We analysed acute ablation-induced changes in HR and short-term HRV during percutaneous circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI). We also studied whether observed changes were predictors of successful outcome after first CPVI.